Puducherry Transport Minister Chandira Priyanga resigns, blames caste, gender discrimination

Priyanga said she is proud of her identity as a Dalit woman but never thought that these aspects would become the cause of people’s aversion towards her.

Priyanga also requested Chief Minister N Rangasamy to appoint a person from a Dalit or Vanniyar or some other marginalised community as her replacement in the ministry. (Photo/X/@SPriyanga_offl)

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Puducherry Transport Minister Chandira Priyanga Tuesday announced her resignation from the N Rangasamy-led cabinet alleging gender- and caste-based discrimination.

In a two-page statement, Priyanga, daughter of former Puducherry minister Chandirakasu, who was elected as an MLA from Nedungadu (reserved) constituency on an AINRC (All India NR Congress) ticket, said she is writing the letter realising that though she had the public support to enter the Assembly, it is not easy to fight political manipulation and money.

Must read | I want to empower women, protect child rights: Chandira Priyanga, first woman in Puducherry cabinet in over 40 years

Priyanga said she is proud of her identity as a Dalit woman but never thought that these aspects would become the cause of people’s aversion towards her.

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“I was subjected to continuous harassment on the grounds of my caste and gender,” she said.

pic.twitter.com/5lejQf9uHy

— Chandirapriyanga (@SPriyanga_offl) October 10, 2023

“I am deeply indebted to the people who elected me to the Assembly. However, I realise I no longer can sustain as a minister and fight against the patriarchy. I express my sincere apology, I will continue to serve the people as an MLA,” Priyanga said.

She also requested Chief Minister N Rangasamy to appoint a person from a Dalit or Vanniyar or some other marginalised community as her replacement in the ministry.

Elected on an AINRC ticket for a second consecutive term in the 2021 Assembly polls from the Nedungadu reserved constituency in Karaikal, Priyanga was entrusted with the Transport portfolio in Chief Minister N Rangasamy’s Cabinet. She was also given charge of Housing, Labour, and Employment portfolios.

Finally, in a cryptic manner, she thanked the people who speak about women’s rights and 33 per cent reservation in the legislature for women in public meetings ‘only’.

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It is to be noted that Priyanga became only the second woman minister in Puducherry after Renuka Appadurai in the 1980s. Chief Minister Rangasamy Tuesday refused to comment on Priyanga’s decision to resign from her post.

Janardhan Koushik

Janardhan Koushik is Deputy Copy Editor of indianexpress.com. He is a New Media journalist with over five years of reporting experience in the industry. He has a keen interest in politics, sports, films, and other civic issues. Janardhan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Visual Communication from SRM Arts and Science College and a PG Diploma in New Media from Asian College of Journalism, one of the top ranked journalism schools in India. He started his career with India Today group as a sub-editor as part of the sports team in 2016. He has also a wide experience as a script-writer having worked for short-films, pilot films as well as a radio jockey cum show producer while contributing for an online Tamil FM. As a multilingual journalist, he actively tracks the latest development in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry utiling his well-established networks to contribute significantly to breaking news stories. He has also worked as a sports analyst for Star Sports. ... Read More

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