President Droupadi Murmu has approved the proposal of Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy to expand the cabinet of the Union territory. The Union Home Ministry issued a notification in this regard, confirming the appointment of three new ministers.
New Ministers Appointed
P Rajavelu, V P Sivakolundhu, and G N S Rajasekaran have been appointed to the Council of Ministers for the Union territory of Puducherry. The appointments take effect from the date they are sworn in, as stated by Joint Secretary (Home Ministry) Praveen Kumar Rai in the notification.
Balanced Representation
The cabinet expansion successfully balances regional and community representation within the ruling All India NR Congress (AINRC) and BJP alliance. The inclusion of Rajavelu ensures representation for the Scheduled Caste community. Rajasekaran, who secured a victory from the Thirunallar constituency, guarantees 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.
Background of the Development
This 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.
Swearing-In Ceremony
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.
