In a statement, he said the demand for Statehood has been pending since 1987. The Puducherry Assembly had passed 16 resolutions requesting the Union government to accord Statehood for Puducherry.
“If Statehood is genuinely Chief Minister N. Rangasamy’s goal, he must not treat it as an occasional political slogan and immediately launch a structured, evidence-based campaign to achieve it. We need a united political movement, require a road map, a documented case to put sustained pressure on the Centre,” the statement said.
The Chief Minister should take steps to engage a nationally-reputed institution, such as the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy to prepare a report to justify the need for Statehood status for Puducherry. The report must examine Puducherry’s economy, geographical characteristics, population, administrative constraints, limitations of the Assembly and benefits of getting Statehood, he said.
He also called for mobilising support of residents, social organisations, trade unions, industry bodies and political parties across the country.