States » SouthPosted at: Jun 29 2025 12:26AM


BJP faces Dalit backlash in Puducherry after Minister, 3 nominated MLAs resignation on diktat from national leadership

Chennai, June 28 (UNI) Resignation of a BJP minister, the lone Dalit in the coalition government of Chief Minister N Rangasamy in Puducherry, along with three other nominated members to the assembly, following a diktat from the saffron party’s national leadership in attempt to quell dissidence plaguing the party in the Union Territory has resulted in a Dalit backlash, besides deepening groupism.
While Mr Rangasamy, after consulting Lt Governor K Kailashnathan, informed the media about accepting the resignation of BJP Minister AK Sai J Saravanan Kumar, Speaker R Selvam accepted the resignation of the three nominated legislators - K Venkatesan, VP Ramalingam and R Ashok Babu, Chief Minister Speaker Selvam.
The Assembly Secretariat issued a notification to that effect.
But, late on Friday evening posters and protests have erupted near the BJP office in Puducherry, condemning the national leadership for being anti-Dalit.
In support of the Minister, Saravanan Kumar, many Dalit outfits have come out on the streets, claiming that with his exit there will be no Dalit representation in the Rangasamy cabinet. They
also demanded that he be made the party chief of the Union Territory.
Elected from Ossudu General Constituency, he was earlier Minister for Cooperation but was shifted
to Adi Dravidar (Dalit) and Minorities Welfare following corruption allegations.
Mr Rangasamy had Chandira Priyanka, from his All India NR Congress (AINRC) party, as Minister
for Adi Dravidar Welfare but was dropped from the cabinet.
The three legislators, belonging to the BJP, were nominated by the Union Home Ministry, immediately after the AINRC-BJP alliance swept the 2021 Assembly elections in the Union Territory, a former French enclave.
In the coalition Government, the BJP had two ministerial berths besides the post of Speaker.
Contrary to the BJPs expectations that sharing power will help the growth of the party, it had only given rise to dissidence with those kept out, demanding minsters post on rotation and chairmanships in various Boards.
They started acting independently by staying away from party events after the defeat of the party candidate A Namasivayam, a minister, in the 2024 LS poll.
They also allegedly teamed up with lottery magnate Santiago Martin’s son, Jose Charles, and organised functions to distribute welfare assistance. They even planned grand celebration for
Charles’ birthday in Puducherry, rattling the national leadership.
Now, with all the nominated MLAs having resigned the Union Home Ministry will issue an order, nominating their replacements, party sources said.
To offset the disenchantment among Dalits, the BJP national leadership might give a representation to a Dalit as well as a member from the Karaikal region of the Union Territory, the sources maintained adding that the order might be issued anytime soon so that the new nominees could be sworn in early next week.
While the BJP leadership is in a huddle to find a replacement for Saravanan Kumar in the cabinet
and to elect a new president, sources said he remains a front runner for the post of Puducherry unit chief.
The nomination for the election would commence tomorrow.
UNI MCR GV
Tags: #BJP faces Dalit backlash in Puducherry after Minister# 3 nominated MLAs resignation on diktat from national leadership
More News

Thunderstorm with lightning & strong winds likely in Telangana in next 5 days: Met

29 Jun 2025 | 2:13 PM

Hyderabad, June 29 (UNI) Thunderstorms accompanied by lightning are likely to occur at isolated places in Telangana during the next five days, the Meteorological Centre said on Sunday.

see more..
Kishan Reddy watches Mann Ki Baat with residents; calls for unanimous BJP state president election

Kishan Reddy watches Mann Ki Baat with residents; calls for unanimous BJP state president election

29 Jun 2025 | 1:57 PM

Hyderabad, June 29 (UNI) Union Minister and BJP Telangana Chief G Kishan Reddy today participated in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Mann Ki Baat programme viewing along with
local residents at Moti Nagar in the Jubilee Hills constituency.

see more..
Ponnam slams BRS, urges unity for Telangana’s interests at Congress district meet

Ponnam slams BRS, urges unity for Telangana’s interests at Congress district meet

29 Jun 2025 | 1:42 PM

Hyderabad, June 29 (UNI) Telangana Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar strongly criticised the previous BRS government, accusing it of autocratic rule and financial mismanagement, and called
for united efforts to safeguard Telangana’s interests.

see more..

Railway police fire into air to foil robbery attempt in express train

29 Jun 2025 | 1:28 PM

Guntur, June 29 (UNI) The railway police fired three rounds into the air to foil the attempt of robbery in an express train by robbers at Tummala Cheruvu village of Piduguralla mandal in Palnadu district in Andhra Pradesh in the wee hours on Sunday.

see more..

Cong govt blocking Karnataka's progress: Vijayendra

29 Jun 2025 | 10:43 AM

Bengaluru, June 29 (UNI) Karnataka BJP President Vijayendra Yediyurappa today launched a scathing attack on the Congress-led state government, accusing it of betraying the people by "stalling" crucial railway projects and allowing the state’s development to stagnate.

see more..