The official resolution tabled on May 7 by Chief Minister N Rangasamy before the session adjourned sine die urging the Centre to grant full statehood to Puducherry recieved positive response from all but one member in the House.
Tourism Minister Malladi Krishna Rao was the only member who declined to back the demand for statehood as he took the stand that Yanam region in the union territory, from where he has been elected, was totally opposed to statehood and wanted retention of the current status of Union Territory for Puducherry.
He also pointed out in the course of his explanation for his rejection of the demand for statehood that as a Union Territory, Puducherry and its outyling regions had been making good and enviable progress in all fields of development.
This was probably for the first time in the history of the Puducherry assembly and also council of ministers that one of the ministers distanced himself from an official resolution.
Political observers feel that lack of unanimity on the part of the ministry could be a major impediment for Chief Minister N Rangasamy and his colleagues to press the demand effectively.
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"A fractured approach will be of no help and efforts should be made to convince Rao of the necessity for statehood. He should be made to toe the line of the ministry and the Assembly to persuade unitedly the Centre to accord statehood," a senior Congress functionary said, on condition of anonymity.
Puducherry and its outlying regions of Karaikal, Mahe and Yanam, are spread over in different states. Puducherry and Karaikal are contained as enclaves of the Union Territory in Tamil Nadu limits, while Mahe and Yanam are enclaves in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh respectively.
Each of these regions is located within several kilometers of one another. Limited powers to the ministry and the Assembly in the present status of Union Territory has been felt to be a major handicap for the government to decide independently any welfare measure and implementation of the decisions is subject to approval by the Centre or by the Lt Governor.
Puducherry has been a Union Territory. It has, however, a duly elected Assembly and a Ministry as could be seen in any full fledged state. Different views were expressed as to whether Puducherry would be able to sustain itself financially if it became a state.
Nothing should be attempted in haste and all implications should be studied with much forethought and caution, said PMC legislature party leader K Lakshminarayanan. He said his party was in full support of the plea for the statehood, but the issue should be approached with utmost care.
On the other hand, Education Minister M O H F Shahjahan pointed out that there would be absolutely no difficulty to mobilise funds if Puducherry became a state. In fact, there were several disadvantages while being a Union Territory. "We are not entitled to any of the funds operated by the Centre and we have no share in the revenue mobilised here".