Puducherry [India]: The Central government has approved the recommendation of Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy to remove Nedungadu MLA Chandira Priyanga from the Council of Ministers headed by him.
“The President, on the advice of the Chief Minister of Puducherry, is pleased to remove Chandira Priyanga, Minister for Transport, from the Council of Ministers, with immediate effect,” said a notification issued on Saturday by Joint Secretary to the Government of India Prashant Lokhande.
Priyanga released copies of her resignation letter to the media on October 10. She alleged in her resignation letter that she faced caste and gender discrimination.
However, Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan told reporters in Chennai that the Chief Minister had recommended her removal from the Council of Ministers even before she had submitted her resignation.
Confirming the Central government’s approval to remove Priyanga, Puducherry Speaker R Selvam on Saturday said that she violated the rules by sending her resignation letter directly to the central government.
“Chandira Priyanga should have submitted her resignation letter to the Chief Minister first and then sent it to the Central Government through the Lieutenant Governor,” R Selvam said.
R Selvam said that the Centre took time to complete the procedure as Priyanga submitted her resignation to the President and Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
“She sent the letter after the Chief Minister wrote to the Ministry of Home Affairs. So, the Centre took time to get clarification on certain issues,” R Selvam said.
He also said that the central government is providing necessary financial assistance to Puducherry and Chief Minister Rangasamy will continue as Chief Minister for five years and complete all the programs for the people.
