Puducherry: Lone woman MLA S Chandira Priyanga resigns as minister, alleges conspiracy and bias

Puducherry’s sole woman legislator and minister, S Chandira Priyanga, tendered her resignation from the AINRC-BJP coalition cabinet on Tuesday citing conspiracy, financial influence, casteism, and gender bias as the reasons behind her decision.

Chief Minister N Rangasamy declined to comment on her resignation. When a team of reporters approached him within his chamber, the CM simply stated, “I have not invited you,” and did not respond to their inquiries, reported PTI.

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In 2021, Chandira Priyanga made history by becoming the first woman minister in Puducherry in over 40 years, holding the Transport portfolio in the N Rangasamy-led coalition cabinet. She was elected from the Neduncadu reserved constituency in Karaikal during the 2021 Assembly polls.

Chandira Priyanga resigned as a Minister and submitted her resignation letter through her Secretary at the Chief Minister’s office, The CMO confirmed the receipt of the letter and forwarded it to the Chief Minister for his decision.

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In her resignation letter, she mentioned her struggle against the “politics of conspiracy” and the overwhelming influence of money power, revealing that she faced casteism and gender bias. She stated that she could no longer bear these challenges beyond a certain limit.

A copy of the resignation letter, distributed to the media, mentioned her entry into the Assembly due to her popularity among the citizens of her constituency. However, she expressed that it was not easy for her to overcome “politics of conspiracy”.

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“I was also targeted continuously and found that I could not bear the politics of conspiracy and the big ghost of money power any longer beyond certain limits,” Priyanga added.

Chandira Priyanga expressed her intention to release a detailed report highlighting the changes, improvements, and reforms she made in the departments she oversaw as Minister, including Housing and Labor and Employment portfolios, expressing gratitude to her constituency’s people and promised to continue serving as their legislator.

Thanking the CM for appointing her as a minister, she urged him to appoint a legislator from the Vanniyar, Dalit, or minority communities to fill the vacancy left by her resignation, asserting the importance of not choosing a successor based on money, power or influence to avoid injustice to these communities.

She also requested the CM to ensure the implementation of government welfare measures in her constituency. A source from Raj Nivas confirmed receiving a copy of the minister’s resignation letter at the Lt Governor’s office.

(With PTI Inputs)