President accords approval for Puducherry cabinet expansion

Puducherry: President Droupadi Murmu has approved Puducherry chief minister N Rangasamy’s proposal for expansion of the cabinet of the Union territory. The Union home ministry issued a notification in this regard. P Rajavelu, V P Sivakolundhu and G N S Rajasekaran have been appointed in the Council of Ministers for the Union territory of Puducherry, with effect from the date they are sworn in, joint secretary (home ministry) Praveen Kumar Rai said in the notification.

The expansion successfully balances regional and community representation within the ruling All India NR Congress (AINRC) and BJP alliance. The inclusion of Rajavelu secures representation for the Scheduled Caste community, while Rajasekaran, who secured a victory from the Thirunallar constituency, ensures a cabinet voice for the Karaikal district enclave. While Rajasekaran enters the cabinet as a first-time minister, both Rajavelu and former speaker Sivakolundhu bring substantial administrative and legislative experience back into the core governance framework.

The development follows the pre-poll agreement within the ruling NDA, which returned to power by securing a majority of 18 seats in the 30-member Puducherry legislative assembly. AINRC founder president N Rangasamy took the oath of office as chief minister on May 13, 2026. He was sworn in alongside BJP’s A Namassivayam and AINRC’s Malladi Krishna Rao. However, portfolio allocations for these ministers were temporarily put on hold pending the full structure of the cabinet.

Puducherry lieutenant governor K Kailashnathan will officially administer the oath of office and secrecy to the three newly designated ministers at a formal swearing-in ceremony shortly.