Portfolio list submitted to Lt. Governor, says Chief Minister Rangasamy

Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, on Monday, said he has submitted the list of portfolios for his Ministers to Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan.

“I have submitted the portfolio list to the Lt Governor today ( Monday),” he told reporters outside Lok Nivas.

The Chief Minister did not state when the portfolio list will be published. A government source said Mr. Rangasamy, on the side lines of a meeting held on Monday morning at Lok Nivas to discuss recommendation of names for Padma Awards, had held talks with Mr. Kailashnathan.

“The Chief Minister, after the meeting on Padma Awards, had a discussion with the Lt. Governor on portfolio allocation. The meeting lasted for around ten minutes. The Chief Minister again met the Lt. Governor in the evening to handover the list,” the source said. 

The AINRC-BJP government had been facing severe criticism for the delay in allocation of portfolios and conduct of Speaker election for more than two months after declaration of Assembly election results.

Administrative Paralysis

On Monday morning, former Chief Minister and Congress leader V. Narayanasamy, at a press conference, had attacked the Chief Minister for the delay. He said the administration has collapsed as there was no functional cabinet in Puducherry.

“Ministers are not coming to their office as they are not given portfolios. It is more than two months since Mr. Rangasamy assumed charge as the Chief Minister. There is complete administrative paralysis. Even free rice given to ration card holders have not been distributed for the last five months,” he said. 

The Congress leader also criticised the Lt. Governor for his comparison of Mr. Rangasamy with former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Congress stalwart K. Kamaraj. “The Lt. Governor has demeaned the stature of the great Mr. Kamaraj by comparing him with the Puducherry Chief Minister,” Mr. Narayanasamy said.