Besides Saravanan Kumar, nominated BJP MLAs VP Ramalingam, RB Ashok Babu, and K Venkatesan, too, resigned on Friday.
Published Jun 28, 2025 | 1:40 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 28, 2025 | 2:23 PM
AK Sai J Saravanan Kumar held the Adi Dravidar Welfare portfolio in the N Rangasamy-led Cabinet.
Synopsis: AK Sai J Saravanan Kumar said he was resigning as per the instructions of the BJP high command and added that it was his duty to follow the party’s directives.
BJP’s AK Sai J Saravanan Kumar, the lone Dalit face in the N Rangasamy-led NDA government in Puducherry, resigned from the Cabinet, sparking talks of a major rejig ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Besides Kumar, who held the Adi Dravidar Welfare portfolio, three nominated BJP MLAs, VP Ramalingam, RB Ashok Babu, and K Venkatesan, too, resigned on Friday, 27 June.
The MLAs’ resignation came after a prolonged discussion with BJP national leader and Puducherry in-charge Nirmal Kumar Surana, in the presence of state BJP president Selvaganapathy, Home Minister Namassivayam. After the meeting, the MLAs submitted their resignations to Speaker Selvam, while Kumar handed over his resignation letter to Chief Minister Rangasamy.
Kumar represents the Oussudu constituency. Initially, he handled Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, District Rural Development Agency, Social Welfare, Urban Basic Services, Fire and Rescue Services, and Minority Welfare portfolios. Over time, some of the portfolios were reassigned to other ministers.
The NR Congress–BJP alliance in Puducherry
In the 2021 Puducherry Legislative Assembly elections, the All India NR Congress (AINRC) and the BJP formed an alliance and rode to power. NR Congress leader Rangasamy was sworn in as the chief minister.
According to a power-sharing arrangement, the NR Congress was allotted two ministerial posts and the Deputy Speaker’s position. The BJP was given two ministerial berths and the Speaker’s post. In addition, the BJP’s Ramalingam, Ashok Babu, and Venkatesan were nominated as MLAs.
Earlier, S Chandira Priyanga, a legislator from the Scheduled Caste community and MLA from Nedungadu in the Karaikal region, served as the Minister for Transport.
S Chandira Priyanga.
A member of the NR Congress, she handled a wide range of portfolios including Transport, Adi Dravidar Welfare, Housing, Labour Welfare, Employment, Art and Culture, and Planning and Statistics.
On 10 October 2023, she resigned from her post, citing gender-based and caste-based discrimination. Her resignation stirred widespread concern over the prevalence of caste-based practices within the Puducherry government.
Before meeting the chief minister, Kumar told reporters that he was resigning as per the instructions of the BJP high command and added that it was his duty to follow the party’s directives.
Sources in the BJP have indicated that MLA John Kumar is likely to replace Kumar in the Cabinet.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
