Statehood Demand For Puducherry: A History (image:x.com/pondytourism)
The demand for statehood in Puducherry has been in high demand for a long time. On August 5, Chief Minister N. Rangasamy restated the statehood demand and urged the Members of Parliament representing the Union Territory to raise the issue of statehood in Parliament.
“It is essential for us to get Statehood for speedy implementation of welfare and development programmes. Our Members of Parliament should raise the issue with Centre,” the Chief Minister said.
Puducherry being a Union Territory has been ruled directly by the Central government and its governance is distinct from that of a State.
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Ending 280 years of French rule, Puducherry became a Union Territory after the French possessions in India were transferred to the Indian Union on November 1, 1954. It became officially an integral part of India in 1963, after the French Parliament in Paris sanctioned the Treaty.
The advocates of statehood claim that it would entail Puducherry having greater autonomy in decision-making in matters of governance and development. They hope that statehood will give them greater powers to attract industries, generate employment opportunities, and improve infrastructure facilities to attract tourism.
The process for achieving statehood involves Presidential and Parliamentary initiatives under Article 3 of the Constitution. The Article deals with the formulation of new states and the alteration of existing areas, boundaries, or names of existing states. Though it does not demand constitutional amendments, decisions to grant statehood reside with the Central government.
On April 7, addressing an election rally relating to Lok Sabha polls, DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said that if the INDIA bloc votes to power after Lok Sabha polls, it will provide statehood to Puducherry. “We are keen that the rights of not only bigger states like Tamil Nadu, but also the rights of union territories like Puducherry should be protected,” MK Stalin said.
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Not only DMK, but the statehood issue has been reiterated by other parties, including AIADMK and DMK.
Last year, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) communication to the government on maintaining the status of Puducherry as a union territory caused a stir. In response to the 14th resolution adopted by Puducherry seeking statehood, the MHA reiterated its position. The Under Secretary to the Government of India, Prabhat Nigam, said in a letter to the Puducherry Chief Secretary that “it has been decided with the approval of competent authority that the present arrangement may continue for now”.
