Puducherry: It has been 54 days since Puducherry assembly election results were declared, but the Union territory is yet to have a fully functional govt. The election results, declared on May 4, saw NDA secure 18 seats (AINRC 12, BJP 4, AIADMK 1, and LJK 1) and cross the simple majority mark of 16 seats required in the 30-member House.While AINRC founder N Rangasamy was sworn in as chief minister alongside A Namassivayam (BJP) and Malladi Krishna Rao (AINRC) as ministers on May 13, no portfolios were assigned to them. All govt departments have continued to remain under the direct control of the chief minister.Following prolonged consultations and negotiations within the ruling alliance, the cabinet was expanded on June 17 with the induction of V P Sivakolundhu (AINRC), P Rajavelu (AINRC), and G N S Rajasekaran (BJP). But 10 days after assuming office, however, portfolios have not been allocated to ministers.“This clearly indicates that the chief minister has failed to discharge one of his most fundamental constitutional responsibilities,” said Puducherry Maanila Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam president and former Lok Sabha MP M Ramadass. “A cabinet without portfolios is not a functioning govt. One of the most basic principles of the parliamentary system of democracy is that every minister must be entrusted with specific departments and exercise executive responsibility over them. Without portfolios, ministers are unable to discharge their constitutional duties.”The ruling alliance is pushing forward with its legislative calendar despite the ongoing impasse. AINRC sources indicate that govt proposes to tentatively hold the election for the Speaker’s post on July 2, convene the assembly for the budget session on July 8, and formally present the budget for the 2026-27 financial year on July 16.“Portfolios will be allotted to the ministers before July 2,” said an AINRC functionary. “There are some glitches in sharing the portfolios with BJP. Our junior partner, despite holding just four seats, is demanding a larger share of governance alongside the Speaker’s post. We are confident that these issues will be resolved soon,” he said.
