On Sunday, 5 ministers had been inducted into the Puducherry cupboard led by Chief Minister N Rangasamy. Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan administered the oath of workplace to 2 BJP ally and three different MLAs of the All India NR Congress (AINRC). While this was the primary time within the historical past of Puducherry {that a} BJP member joined the cupboard, the entry of a girl into the ministry after practically 41 years was one other first.
Chandira Priyanga, 32-year-old AINRC MLA from Nedungadu (Reserved) constituency, grew to become the second lady minister in Puducherry after Renuka Appadurai within the Eighties. Appadurai dealt with the schooling portfolio within the Congress-DMK-led coalition ministry.
In an unique interview with indianexpress.com, Late M Chandrakasu’s daughter Priyanga, who was additionally a minister in Puducherry, talked about her political profession and her imaginative and prescient for the Union Territory.
How does it really feel to be the primary lady minister in Puducherry after 4 a long time?
It’s a proud second. I’ll repay the belief the folks of my constituency have proven in me. I need to thank my Chief Minister for believing in my skills and selecting me over different senior leaders. I’ll work exhausting to instill confidence in different girls to take up politics as a career. My particular focus might be on enhancing schooling and infrastructure in rural areas. Empowering girls with a number of schemes, defending baby rights can be my different areas of focus. I wish to do constructive politics.
Why do you suppose there was such a protracted hole between the 2 girls ministers?
Changes are happening not solely in politics, but in addition in different fields. Families who used to hesitate to supply schooling to their lady baby, now need their daughters to be equal to their sons. We have a help system now. Even my friends have began taking a look at an individual past gender. They perceive that ladies are an integral a part of the system. Last time there have been girls within the meeting, now we now have illustration within the ministry. Whoever has the flexibility is now chosen past gender.
Was you inclined in direction of politics since childhood?
I all the time wished to be a politician. My curiosity in public life developed largely due to my father. My home was crammed with folks. The members of the occasion, most of the people used to return and go. I’m an solely baby so I developed a sort of relationship with these folks; For me all are ‘Anna’ and ‘Akka’. The bonding was particular and it paved the way in which for my political profession. Even after getting married and having youngsters, I did not lose that reference to folks. When I contested elections in 2016, I didn’t really feel any strain as all of the occasion leaders supported me. The folks of my constituency didn’t see me because the daughter of a former minister, they noticed me as an individual they knew properly.
What recommendation did you get out of your father that it’s not straightforward being a profitable feminine politician right here?
Appa’s well being suffered a setback in 2014. He was on dialysis for greater than 14 years. His well being situation had an impression on his work, so I stepped in and helped him course of issues on time. It allowed me to realize the belief of different leaders. Appa neither inspired nor discouraged me. When I stated I wished to enter electoral politics, he stated there can be lots of criticism, and particularly for a lady, it will be rather more troublesome.
Who evokes you in politics?
I take inspiration from each lady. All working girls are my inspiration. The individuals who work within the agriculture sector all day lengthy and maintain their youngsters are additionally my inspiration. In politics, I love Amma (former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa), Indira Gandhi, Smriti Irani. My largest inspiration has been our Governor Dr. Tamilisai Sundararajan. see her; How many criticisms needed to be confronted, however look the place is it now. She is managing two states at a time, her exhausting work and dedication has introduced her to this place.
The cupboard was shaped greater than 50 days after the outcomes had been out. There has been criticism from the opposition and others that the members of the NDA coalition occasion had been extra targeted on securing standing than on addressing the problems of the folks, what’s your tackle this?
The main accountability of a authorities is to make sure that they’re offering the appropriate job to the appropriate particular person as that particular person goes to take care of their portfolio for the subsequent 5 years. If an accident occurs, it’ll have an effect on your complete authorities. This shouldn’t be the primary time that Rangasamy Ayya has been elected chief minister. He is aware of what is true for folks. Also, our Chief Minister contracted COVID-19. You should contemplate his age. He has simply recovered from this virus. It will take time for an individual to turn into mentally and bodily match to take the appropriate choice and that’s the reason it took time to kind the cupboard. Only opposition and other people make such allegations towards this authorities however persons are behind this authorities. He says that regardless of the delay in appointments, the federal government has taken the appropriate choice.
How totally different will this NR Congress-BJP coalition authorities be from the earlier Congress authorities?
It is simply too early to touch upon this as we now have not been allotted a portfolio, however I can say with confidence that we’ll present higher governance. It is a union territory so we’re depending on the central authorities. Since we’re in alliance with BJP, all of the schemes associated to the welfare of the folks might be applied with none delay. If all the problems associated to the persons are resolved and everyone seems to be proud of our work then it naturally turns into good governance.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
