Puducherry BJP Legislators Fight for Berths, Cabinet Formation Pending After 50 Days of Poll Results

The fight within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for ministerial berths in Puducherry is getting murkier. The disagreements within the BJP, and between the BJP and its ally All India NR Congress (AINRC) have left the union territory without a cabinet since the swearing in of the chief minister on May 7. 

The BJP is getting a taste of its own medicine with party hoppers and turncoats revolting against the party for power. The AINRC is refusing to yield to the pressure of the BJP for plump ministries while the saffron party is facing trouble from its own members.

Supporters of BJP MLA, A John Kumar locked the party headquarters on June 19 after damaging the flags and posters demanding a ministerial berth for the lawmaker from Kamaraj Nagar. A John Kumar had shifted to the BJP from the Congress earlier this year, after a stint with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) till 2016. 

'SWEARING IN OF CABINET IN A WEEK'

The election result was announced on May 2 and the leader of the AINRC, N Rangasamy was sworn in as the chief minister on May 7. Even after 50 days of the announcement of results, the CM is unable to form a cabinet. 

The CM had remained tight-lipped on the feud between the BJP and the AINRC without hinting on the swearing-in of the cabinet. After much hesitation, he responded to Times Now saying that the cabinet formation will be completed within a week.

"The CM has just reacted to the question of the media. But I am not sure of his plans to convince the BJP and his own legislators. The BJP seems to have worked out a plan to appoint members as ministers on a rotational basis. But we have to wait for the official confirmation", a senior journalist based in Puducherry said.

With all the six elected BJP legislators aiming for ministerial berths, things became worse in the camp. The BJP was allocated two ministerial berths and the post of Speaker as per the agreement with the AINRC. 

Former Congress strongman, A Namasivayam has reportedly ensured his entry into the cabinet with similar portfolios that he held during the previous regime. 

MLA SUPPORTERS LOCK BJP OFFICE

The clash within the BJP escalated to win the race for the second berth in the cabinet. While the BJP and its supporters wanted a long term BJP member to occupy the post, A John Kumar, who shifted allegiance, to the BJP prior to the elections threw his hat into the competition. 

The supporters of John Kumar held a protest outside the BJP office demanding his inclusion in the cabinet. The supporters damaged banners and posters and locked the party office. The supporters held another black flag protest on June 21, reportedly on the denial of ministerial berth. 

“The BJP is facing the outcome of its own ugly political strategies. The thirst for power of the party and those who were promised positions and posts are getting exposed. Such reactions from turncoats are inevitable,” said a senior journalist.

John Kumar, with his legislator son Richard John Kumar, had travelled to Delhi to meet with the national leaders of the party to stake claim for his entry into the N Rangaswamy-led cabinet. 

“While all this is happening, the people of Puducherry went through tiring times with the pandemic. The cases have flattened, but the people will always remember the incompetence of the NDA, particularly that of the BJP, despite the mandate to form a cabinet,” the senior journalist said. 

The MLA, John Kumar was subject to income tax raids while he was in the Congress. His meeting with BJP incharge for Puducherry during December last year raised speculations about him shifting allegiance. Subsequently, he tendered his resignation on February 16 this year, leading to the downfall of the Congress government led by V Narayaswamy.