BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasan on Monday said Chief Minister and AINRC founder N. Rangasamy must respond to criticism over the delay in electing the Speaker and allocating portfolios to the Ministers in the National Democratic Alliance government in Puducherry.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP office, Ms. Srinivasan said the NDA had returned to power for the second time and the BJP was extending support to Mr. Rangasamy. When asked about the delay in electing a Speaker and allocating portfolios to the five Ministers, even 60 days after the formation of the government, she said the Chief Minister must take a decision on the matter.

“Welfare measures are being implemented without any hindrance. Central government schemes are being implemented without any difficulty as it is a Union Territory. It is true that two months have passed since the government was formed. Ministers have assumed charge, but they are yet to be assigned portfolios. The Speaker has to be elected and the Assembly convened. But we (BJP) are only a minor partner in Puducherry. So, a decision has to be taken by the Chief Minister and he has to respond to the criticism,” she said.

When asked about the criticism that the BJP has “surrendered” to the AINRC, she said, “If we take a stand, you will say we are threatening a regional party in a small territory. Now you are saying we have surrendered. In the present scenario, the Chief Minister has to respond to the criticism.”

Ms. Srinivasan said the BJP was not taking the criticism by the Congress party seriously as the latter was only interested in breaking the NDA alliance in Puducherry. 

‘No major change’

She also criticised the Tamil Nadu government for mishandling the law and order situation in the State. There had been no major change in the law and order front after Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay took over the governance of Tamil Nadu from the DMK.

Ms. Srinivasan accused the TVK of promoting horse-trading by exploiting the volatile situation in other political parties.

Ms. Srinivasan was in Puducherry to participate in the 125^th birth anniversary celebrations of Bharatiya Jana Sangh’s founding president Syama Prasad Mookerjee. She said the ideals set by Mr. Mookerjee had guided the BJP in its journey towards becoming one of the largest political outfits in the world and helped the party come to power with the help of allies in majority of the States in India.

Minister A. Namassivayam, BJP Puducherry president V.P. Ramalingam and former Speaker R. Selvam were present.