puducherry-s-statehood-demand-once-again-echoes

Puducherry's long-pending statehood demand once again echoed in the assembly earlier this week after the House passed a unanimous resolution expressing its sentiments with the Centre on the matter. Puducherry, a coastal town located about 170 km from Chennai, and its outlying regions of Karaikal, Mahe, and Yanam located as enclaves either in Tamilnadu, Kerala, or Andhra Pradesh had been together as a union territory since their merger with the Indian Union through a referendum in 1954.

 

This is not the first time, but the territorial Assembly has adopted resolutions on 15 occasions in the past seeking statehood. Even the election manifestos of all political parties released during the run-up to either Assembly or Lok Sabha polls all along had been insisting they would strive hard to ensure statehood. 

 

The House adopted a resolution on August 14 on the statehood issue, with all parties backing the motion.

 

Chief Minister N Rangasamy has emphasized that statehood is essential to overcome the limitations of being a union territory, where the elected government requires the Centre's consent to introduce bills. He had recently said that "the only solution for all the difficulties the territorial government is facing is the conferment of statehood on Puducherry." 

 

Former Puducherry Chief Minister and senior Congress leader V Narayanasamy has also reaffirmed his and his party's support for the cause, saying, "The Centre's share for the budget of Puducherry and the State's contributions would be copiously available. There should be prudence in planning and spending of money". 

 

The government's inability to implement decisions has been a recurring grievance, with frequent tussles between the elected government and the Lt Governor in the past.

 

With the BJP part of the coalition government, opposition parties believe now is the opportune time to secure statehood, and a joint delegation could facilitate the process.

 

AIADMK's Puducherry secretary A Anbalagan has urged the government to intensify efforts to achieve statehood, a demand that has been fought for by his party.

 

The demand for statehood has gained momentum, with legislators optimistic about achieving the goal.