Rangasamy calls on PM Modi more than 15 months after becoming Puducherry CM

PUDUCHERRY: More than 15 months after assuming office as chief minister of the Union territory of Puducherry, N Rangasamy made his maiden visit to the national capital territory of Delhi on Tuesday and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Rangasamy had faced severe criticism from different quarters for delaying his visit to Delhi and calling on the Prime Minister after the NDA led by Congress splinter group All India NR Congress (AINRC) emerged victorious in the 2021 assembly polls in the Union territory.
The critics argued that even political leaders like Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who oppose BJP tooth and nail, had visited Delhi and made a courtesy call to Modi after assuming charge but Rangasamy despite being in alliance with the saffron party had failed to do.
Rangasamy’s visit to Delhi came just a day before the legislative assembly of the Union territory convenes on Wednesday. The government must pass the budget for the current fiscal year 2022-23 before August 31. The vote on account for Rs 3,613 crore passed by the government on March 30 was to meet the expenses of the Union territory for five months until August 31.
During his Delhi visit, Rangasamy also called on Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He had elaborate discussions with Modi and Sitharaman and submitted memorandums urging them to fulfil several pending demands including conferring statehood on the Union territory and extending GST compensation.