CM Rangasamy reiterates demand for Statehood for Puducherry in Assembly

Reiterating the demand for Statehood for Puducherry in the Assembly, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Tuesday (March 25, 2025) said the government was facing bottlenecks at the official level because of Puducherry’s status as a Union Territory (UT).  

Reiterating the demand for Statehood for Puducherry in the Assembly, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Tuesday (March 25, 2025) said the government was facing bottlenecks at the official level because of Puducherry’s status as a Union Territory (UT).  

The Chief Minister yet again pitched for Statehood in the Assembly when nominated legislator from the BJP Ashok Babu raised a query on the status of the government proposal to hold an investors’ meet in the UT.

Mr. Rangasamy said even if the government was to hold an investors meet, the process of setting up industrial units would get delayed. “The prevailing administrative system is such that officials are going to clear the proposal. Decisions can be made only when the Chief Secretary clears the file. That is why we demand Statehood. I am not asking for Statehood for myself but for all the elected governments in the future. Only when we have Statehood will Puducherry progress,” he said. 

The Chief Minister pointed out that M.K. Stalin, the Chief Minister of the neighbouring State of Tamil Nadu, was able to meet investors, invite them, and give speedy clearance for setting up industrial units. “The Tamil Nadu government could establish new industrial units in the neighbouring Vanur taluk without any hurdles. As for us, we have to depend on officials for clearance, which delays the process,” Mr. Rangasamy said. 

Concurring with the views of the Chief Minister, Speaker R. Selvam said officials were causing hindrance to the implementation of schemes planned by the government.