Puducherry CM Rangasamy offers to resign MLA post for Statehood cause

Members speaking in the Puducherry Assembly during the general discussion on the Budget on Friday | Photo Credit: S.S. Kumar When the Statehood issue came up for discussion for the second consecutive day in the Puducherry Assembly on Friday (August 28, 2026), Chief Minister and AINRC founder N. Rangasamy went to the extent of offering to resign his MLA post to fight for the cause.“I am ready to resign my MLA post, and if there is an assurance that Statehood will be given, we can go to Delhi to take up the demand with the Central government,” the Chief Minister said, as members raised the issue of Statehood during the general discussion on the Budget in the Assembly.The Chief Minister’s response came after BJP legislator A. John Kumar raked up the Statehood subject while participating in the discussion. Mr. Kumar said that the demand for Statehood might not be feasible and hence, the Assembly should request the Central government to accord ‘Special Category Status’ to Puducherry.‘BJP won’t try tactics in Puducherry’: Party MLA“The BJP will try tactics with other State governments but not in Puducherry, because of the respect the BJP high command has towards our Chief Minister. The Chief Minister should go and meet the Prime Minister and make the request. If he makes the request, the Prime Minister will concede to the demand,” Mr. Kumar said.Intervening, as Mr. Kumar was speaking, Pro-tem Speaker A. Anbalagan said the BJP MLA should not create confusion as the Assembly has passed several resolutions unanimously urging the Central government to accord Statehood to Puducherry.“The Congress and the BJP are not in favour of Statehood. The Congress, while being in power for decades at the Centre, has denied Statehood [to Puducherry] and now, the Central government headed by the BJP has made it clear several times that it is not in favour of it,” Mr. Anbalagan said.At this juncture, Opposition leader and DMK member A.M.H Nazeem said, “We should put up a strong fight for Statehood and maybe, as a mark of solidarity for the cause, the House should be adjourned today [Friday] for a few minutes. That will send a strong message to the Central government.”Intervening again, Mr. Anbalagan said there was no need for the Assembly to be adjourned for the cause, as several resolutions demanding Statehood were passed before. Pointing towards Mr. Nazeem, the Pro-tem Speaker said, “Maybe you can resign as an MLA to register your protest on the Statehood issue.”In response, when Mr. Nazeem said he was ready to resign for the cause, a few other members also raised their hands in support of the resignation. As the legislators were speaking on the subject, Mr. Rangasamy intervened to reiterate his demand for Statehood and offered to resign his MLA post for the cause.The administrative problems faced by Puducherry could only be solved by obtaining Statehood, he said. After the Chief Minister spoke, Mr. Anbalagan urged the members to speak only on the Budget proposals during the discussion. Published - August 28, 2026 03:44 pm IST