Puducherry Statehood: CM Rangasamy concurs with DMK that sees no point in contesting poll if government is powerless

DMK and Puducherry CM agree elections are futile without statehood, urging an all-party meeting to address the power issue.

Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Thursday (February 12, 2026) used the floor of the Legislative Assembly, while presenting a Vote on Account of ₹5,396 crore, to express his dismay “over the lack of power of the elected government” in the Union Territory (UT). He went to the extent of concurring with the view of the principal Opposition party, DMK, that the Assembly polls should not be contested until Statehood was accorded to Puducherry.

As the Chief Minister presented the Vote on Account, the DMK and Congress legislators got on their feet, accusing the government of failing to take steps to fulfil certain assurances made to the Assembly. The legislators said the Chief Minister was unable to fulfil the commitment of regularisation of 292 contract teachers “because of the stand taken by the Secretaries”.

“A Chief Minister cannot fulfil these assurances because the elected government has no power in Puducherry. He has to get a sanction from the Chief Secretary and Secretaries to fulfil such assurances. There is no point in continuing like this and then facing another election. There is no point in contesting the polls if the elected government has no power. An all-party meeting should be convened to take a stand on Statehood,” said DMK convenor and Opposition leader R. Siva. 

Mr. Rangasamy, whose All India NR Congress (AINRC) party is running a coalition government with the BJP, was quick to respond that if all the parties take a unanimous stand, the AINRC would support the decision.

“I have been a witness to the governance in Puducherry since 1991. Over the years, there has been a gradual loss of power of the elected government, with arguments now being made to suggest that the Lieutenant Governor of the UT has more power. If all the parties are ready, the AINRC is also ready to take a stand. We must all fight to get Statehood for Puducherry,” the Chief Minister said in the Assembly. 

During his speech, the Chief Minister, however, stated that the AINRC-BJP government was able to fulfil most of the assurances given to the voters. The government was able to provide direct employment to around 4,000 youth in various departments and take up ₹3,000 crore worth of infrastructure projects in the last five years, he said.