The Puducherry Council of Ministers will see an expansion on June 17, allowing the NDA government under Chief Minister N. Rangasamy to reach full capacity and commence portfolio assignments before the Union Territory’s annual budget presentation. President Droupadi Murmu has approved the appointment of three legislators as ministers, as recommended by Chief Minister Rangasamy.
The newly inducted ministers, P. Rajavelu and V.P. Sivakolundhu from the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) and BJP MLA G.N.S. Rajasekaran, will take their oaths of office and secrecy administered by Lt Governor K. Kailashnathan at a ceremony scheduled for 9.45 a.m. on June 17. Their appointments will be effective from the swearing-in date.
This development follows the NDA’s victory in the 2026 Assembly elections, where they secured 18 out of 30 seats. Chief Minister Rangasamy, along with BJP leader A. Namassivayam and AINRC leader Malladi Krishna Rao, were sworn in on May 13. However, the allocation of ministerial portfolios has been pending until the completion of the cabinet formation process.
Experienced legislators Rajavelu and Sivakolundhu, with significant past roles, will be joined by first-time minister Rajasekaran. His inclusion is seen as a move to ensure representation for the Scheduled Caste community and the Karaikal region in the cabinet. The cabinet’s sanctioned strength will be met with these inductions, paving the way for portfolio allocations post the swearing-in ceremony.
