DMK slams BJP over resignation of Dalit legislator from Puducherry Cabinet

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the principal Opposition party in Puducherry, has come out strongly against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the resignation of a Dalit legislator from the Puducherry Cabinet. 

Opposition leader and DMK convenor R. Siva, in a statement, said the party condemns the BJP for seeking the resignation of A.K. Sai J. Saravanan Kumar from the Cabinet headed by Chief Minister N. Rangasamy. Mr. Kumar’s resignation from the Cabinet comes two years after the removal of another Dalit Minister S. Chandira Priyanga from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government in the UT.

It may be recalled that Ms. Priyanga, a member of the Chief Minister’s All India N.R. Congress, a major constituent of the NDA in Puducherry, was dropped from the Cabinet in 2023 as she was “deficient” in her performance as Minister.

“Two years after the removal of Ms. Priyanga, another Dalit Minister has been removed from the Cabinet without giving any reason. There is no Dalit representation in the NDA government in Puducherry now. It is highly condemnable. The vacancy in the Cabinet has to be filled only with the appointment of a Dalit member,“ the Opposition leader said. 

He also questioned the necessity to appoint three nominated legislators. The appointments are solely made by the Ministry of Home Affairs, and the elected Assembly or the people of the UT have no role in the same, after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014, he said.