NewzVille Desk
Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy today met Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar and submitted a memorandum urging the grant of Statehood to the Union Territory.
In his representation, Rangasamy stated that the Puducherry Legislative Assembly has passed multiple resolutions demanding Statehood, with unanimous support from all political parties.
He said the demand reflects the collective aspiration of the people and the entire political spectrum of Puducherry. Highlighting the challenges faced by the Union Territory administration, the Chief Minister said that despite having an elected government with a Council of Ministers and a legislature, the lack of adequate powers hampers effective governance and delays implementation of developmental initiatives.
Rangasamy also pointed out that Puducherry is excluded from the ambit of the Finance Commission, resulting in inadequate devolution of funds from the Centre. He stated that Statehood would potentially enable an additional devolution of ₹1,500 to ₹2,000 crore annually, significantly boosting the UT’s development.
He further noted that the limited powers of a Union Territory status act as a deterrent to attracting industrial investments. The Chief Minister urged the Vice President to take up the matter of granting Statehood for Puducherry at appropriate forums.
