NDA Government Takes Charge

A first of this sort, NDA government in Tamil-speaking Union Territory of Puducherry has assumed charge of 7th May. Also the UT will have a deputy Chief Minister post for the first time. AINRC chief N Rangaswamy was sworn in as the CM of Puducherry in a simple function along with six cabinet members.

Three time Chief Minister and President of the All India NR Congress (AINRC), the 71-year-old N Rangaswamy who led the NDA to victory in the Puducherry Assembly election was sworn in as Chief Minister on Friday. In a simple function held at the Raj Niwas, Lieutenant Governor Dr Tamil Isai Soundra Pandian administered the oath of office and secrecy to Rangaswamy. NR took the oath in Tamil and in the name of God. Only he took the oath on Friday. This is the fourth time Rangaswamy has occupied the Chief Minister’s post. His party forms the government for the second time. He became the CM in 2001 when Congress formed the government. He left Congress due to difference of opinion in 2008 and floated his AINRC two months before the State polls and his party won the polls in tie up with AIADMK.

In the just concluded state Assembly polls, NDA led by AINRC emerged victorious. His party won 10 out of 16 seats it contested, while the BJP won 6 of the nine. Another ally AIADMK drew a blank in all five seats it contested. The Congress led Secular Progressive alliance could manage only 8 seats. Congress bagged just two seats which its ally DMK six. A record number of six independents, mostly rebels, have been elected. The NDA has a simple majority of 16 in the 30 member house.

The Chief Minister earlier hinted that he would be having a Deputy Chief Minister. The Union Territory of Puducherry has never had a Deputy Chief Minister and in all likelihood, BJP leader Namassivayam would have that post. NR cabinet will have 7 members including the Chief minister with 3 members each from AINRC and the BJP. The BJP is likely to induct John Kumar as the minority face of the NR government and the other names will be finalised soon, according to the BJP Puducherry leadership. The ministers would be inducted soon, according to sources. Independent MLA of Yenam constituency Kollappalli Srinivas Ashok expressed his support to BJP. He defeated Rangaaswamy in that constituency. Union Minister Kishan Reddy said both BJP and AINRC have a cordial relationship. We will be getting Deputy CM and cabinet berths and they will be sworn-in a day or two. Namasivayyam is the son-in-law of N Rangaswamy. So the father-in-law and son-in-law duo will rule the roost in the UT.

After taking over the CM of Puducherry, Rangaswamy drove to secretary where he accepted the police honour.