Puducherrry CM Rangasamy skips Niti Aayog meeting again

Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy. File photo Photocredit: The Hindu

Puducherry raised minister and founder leader of All India Nr Congress N. Rangasamy has again skipped the board of directors of the Niti Aayog that will be held on Saturday (24 May 2025) in New Delhi.

The meetings of the Prime Minister’s board of directors discuss topics of national importance, develop strategies to speed up the development agenda and the shared vision. The meeting of Saturday’s meeting will be the 10th after the body was compiled. The meetings are attended by the Chief Ministers/LT governors of states and trade union areas.

The Lord. Rangasamy has so far given no reason to abstain from the meetings and has arisen questions from media with regard to his absence of Niti Aayog and GST Council (Mr Rangasamy also owns financial portfolio) related events in New Delhi in the past.

When asked by reporters this week asked if he would attend Saturday’s meeting, Mr. Rangasamy said: “I’ll tell you.” In fact, the Chief Minister only went to Delhi once after he came to power. During that visit, the Chief Minister called the Prime Minister.

His absence of such meetings had invited criticism from opposition parties, especially the congress. The congress has even attracted the attention of the Lord Rangasamy for the active presence of even head ministers of opposition, ruled States in Niti Aayog and GST Council meetings. “Even those chief ministers who are against the prime minister’s policy visit official meetings that have been convened by the center, but Rangasamy who is an ally of BJP skips such meetings,” said former Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy during one of his press briefings.

‘CM will meet at a suitable moment’

The BJP legislators, while participating in assembly discussions, also called on the main minister to visit the national capital and to appeal to Prime Minister.

“Mr Rangasamy will certainly go to Delhi and meet Prime Minister at the right time to discuss administrative matters. In his first meeting with the Prime Minister himself, he informed the premium needs of UT. The prime minister and minister -President have a high respect for each other,” a leader close to him.

Even when he led a conference government, he never frequently visited Delhi to discuss political or administrative matters, he remembered.