Puducherry’s political landscape was shaken when S Chandira Priyanga, the union territory’s first woman minister in four decades, tendered her resignation, citing caste and gender discrimination. Priyanga, hailing from the Dali community, had represented the Neduncadu constituency, reserved for the Scheduled Caste, in Karaikal. Her resignation has raised concerns about the entrenched challenges faced by women in politics, particularly those hailing from marginalized communities.
Priyanga, who served as the Transport Minister, sent her resignation letter to Chief Minister N Rangasamy’s office. In a candid two-page statement posted on social media, she expressed her struggles against caste-based biases and gender discrimination, which had hampered her work. She vowed to release a list of her accomplishments during her ministerial tenure as a response to criticism.
While Priyanga’s resignation has sent shockwaves through Puducherry’s political circles, the response from the government and party leaders remains awaited. Her plea for her successor to come from the Vanniyar, Dalit, or minority communities reflects her commitment to ensuring inclusive governance in her constituency.
The fallout from this resignation puts a spotlight on the hurdles women politicians face in the male-dominated world of Indian politics, where caste biases and gender disparities remain pervasive issues that need to be addressed.
