Congress leader slams NDA over delay in completion of Cabinet formation in Puducherry

Criticising the leadership of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), headed by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy’s All India N.R. Congress (AINRC), for the delay in forming a full Ministry after the alliance returned to power in the 2026 Assembly elections in the Union Territory, former Chief Minister and Congress leader V. Narayanasamy said the absence of a functional Cabinet has deprived Puducherry of proper governance for about a month now.

“In States where elections were held along with Puducherry, full-fledged governments have come into existence. In our territory, only the swearing-in of Mr. Rangasamy and two Ministers has taken place since the Assembly election results were declared on May 4. Three more Ministers have to be appointed and the election for the Speaker’s post has to be held. The two Ministers who were appointed are functioning without portfolios. Officials are unable to process files in the absence of a full-fledged Cabinet. The administration has come to a standstill,” he told journalists in Puducherry.

Demanding an explanation from Mr. Rangasamy, the Congress leader said the delay in Cabinet expansion had led to several theories being floated. There is a perception that the BJP was stalling the process of Cabinet expansion as the party was trying to serve its interests. A section of people are blaming the Chief Minister, alleging that he wanted to further his own agenda in the process of expanding the Ministry, he alleged.

“It is better for the Chief Minister to clear the air and inform the public of the reason for the delay. He certainly owes an explanation to the voters, as it has been almost a month since the results were declared. Schools and colleges are going to reopen, and the concerned Ministers have to be part of several decisions. The Chief Minister cannot delay the process of forming the Cabinet and allocating portfolios,” the Congress leader said.

Narayanasamy flays DMK

The Congress leader also hit out at the DMK over criticism against his party for the INDIA bloc’s poor performance in the Assembly elections.

“The Congress alone cannot be blamed for the poor performance. Of course, the VCK and Left parties did not have much stake in the seat-sharing talks in the INDIA bloc for the Puducherry Assembly elections. The responsibility for the poor performance has to be owned by the leadership of both the Congress and DMK. We have already taken responsibility. The DMK leadership, instead of criticising us, should also own responsibility,” he said.

The DMK leadership should reflect on the failure of the INDIA bloc, he said. Some leaders in the Dravidian party were trying to secure their position by shifting all blame onto the Congress, the former Chief Minister alleged.

“INDIA bloc had a good chance of returning to power in Puducherry. Power was within striking distance, but we failed due to the overambitions of a few leaders who handled the seat-sharing talks,” the Congress leader said.

He did not elaborate on whether he was blaming the leadership of the Congress or the DMK. Asked about the fate of the INDIA bloc in Puducherry following the break-up of the alliance in Tamil Nadu, the former Chief Minister said the AICC would take a decision on the status of the INDIA bloc in the Union Territory.