In a sudden development, one of the two BJP Ministers in the National Democratic Alliance government in Puducherry, A.K. Sai J. Saravanan Kumar, has resigned from the Cabinet following a direction from the party high command.

Similarly, three nominated legislators of the party in the Puducherry Assembly — K. Venkatesan, V.P. Ramalingam and R.B. Ashok Babu — have also submitted their resignation, hinting at moves by the BJP high command for a major rejig in the party’s legislature wing and organisation in the next few days.

Mr. Kumar was holding the Adi Dravidar Welfare portfolio in Chief Minister N. Rangasamy-led Cabinet.

While he submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister at his cabin, the nominated MLAs gave their resignation letters to Speaker R. Selvam.

Immediately after receiving the resignation letter, the Chief Minister left for Raj Nivas to call on Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan. Emerging from a ten-minute meeting with Mr. Kailashnathan, he told reporters outside Raj Nivas that the Lt. Governor had accepted the resignation.

Earlier, Mr. Kumar told the media that the Prime Minister had asked him to submit the resignation, and he had merely followed his directions. “I was selected four years ago by the Prime Minister to be in the Puducherry Cabinet and he has now asked me to submit the resignation. I have just followed his directions,” he said.

Asked whether he was in the contention for the post of BJP Puducherry unit president, he said: “It will be decided by the party high command and if the responsibility is given, I will work with dedication.”

Meanwhile, the resignation letters submitted to the Speaker will have to be forwarded to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for follow-up as they were appointed by the MHA. Mr. Selvam said he would take a decision shortly.

Sources in the BJP said the party would start the process to elect a new president on Saturday, and it would be completed by Monday. “There will be major changes in the organisation and legislature wing,” a party functionary said.