In fight with L-G, CM skips office & AINRC raises Pondy statehood issue

The simmering tension between Chief Minister N Rangasamy and Lt Governor K Kailashnathan has escalated into a full-blown crisis, with the ruling AINRC-BJP coalition government showing visible signs of strain.

- Debjani Dutta @Puducherry

For the second consecutive day, Rangasamy and his ministers stayed away from office, while his party pressed for a special session of the Assembly to debate the long-pending demand for statehood for Puducherry, signaling strong protest over what they see as unilateral actions by Kailashnathan.