Daijiworld Media Network – Puducherry

Puducherry, Jun 9: President Droupadi Murmu on Monday appointed P Rajavelu, V P Sivakolundhu and GNS Rajasekaran as ministers in the Puducherry Council of Ministers on the advice of Chief Minister N Rangasamy.

According to an official notification, the appointments will take effect from the date the three leaders are sworn in.

"The President is pleased to appoint, on the advice of the Chief Minister, Shri P. Rajavelu, Shri V. P. Sivakolundhu and Shri G. N. S. Rajasekaran as Ministers in the Council of Ministers for the Union Territory of Puducherry, with effect from the date they are sworn in," the notification stated.

The appointments fill the three vacant cabinet positions in the government led by the All India N.R. Congress-led National Democratic Alliance.

The NDA secured victory in the Assembly elections held on April 9. Rangasamy was sworn in as Chief Minister for the fifth time on May 13.

Along with him, BJP legislature party leader A Namassivayam and AINRC legislator Malladi Krishna Rao took oath as ministers in the second NDA government in the Union Territory.

The delay in filling the remaining cabinet berths had drawn criticism from the opposition, with former Chief Minister and Congress leader V Narayanasamy questioning the government over the absence of a full-fledged ministry.

Rangasamy had successfully contested from both the Thattanchavady and Mangalam Assembly constituencies in the election and later vacated the Thattanchavady seat.