Puducherry, May 14:
N Rangasamy, Founder-President of the AINRC and leader of the NDA in Puducherry, was on Wednesday sworn in as Chief Minister for a second consecutive term, marking his fifth overall tenure in office.
The oath of office and secrecy was administered at Raj Nivas by Lt Governor N Kailashanathan at a simple ceremony attended by senior political leaders and officials.
Along with Rangasamy, two BJP MLAs were inducted into the Council of Ministers as part of the NDA government formation.
BJP Legislature Party leader and former Home Minister A Namasivayam, elected from the Mannadipet constituency, and AINRC MLA Malladi Krishna Rao, elected from the Yanam region, also took oath as ministers.
The ceremony was attended by BJP National President Nitin Nabin, Union Minister and BJP Puducherry election observer Mansukh Mandaviya, BJP election in-charge Nirmal Kumar Surana, and leaders of NDA allies including AIADMK and Lakshiya Jananaayaga Katchi (LJK), along with senior officials of the Union Territory administration.
NDA Majority and Cabinet Formation
The AINRC-led NDA secured 18 of the 30 seats in the Puducherry Assembly. Of these, AINRC won 12 seats and BJP secured 4 seats, while allies AIADMK and LJK won one seat each, enabling a stable governing majority.
The opposition INDIA bloc secured six seats, with the DMK winning five and Congress winning one seat. The remaining six seats went to TVK allies and Independent candidates, reflecting a fragmented opposition landscape.
The new cabinet is expected to be expanded in the coming days with additional ministerial inductions, as part of government formation adjustments.
Rangasamy’s Dual Victory and Political Strategy
In the April 9 elections, Rangasamy achieved a rare dual victory, winning from both Thattanchavady—his stronghold—and Mangalam constituency. He is expected to resign one of these seats shortly in accordance with electoral norms.
His win in Thattanchavady was particularly significant, as he defeated PCC President and long-time political rival V Vaithilingam, who finished a distant fourth.
Political Rivalry and Historical Context
Rangasamy’s political journey has been marked by a long-standing rivalry with Vaithilingam. Both leaders were once part of the Congress, where internal differences led to political turbulence.
In 2008, Vaithilingam led a factional challenge that resulted in Rangasamy’s resignation as Chief Minister during a Congress-led government. Subsequently, Rangasamy parted ways with the Congress and formed the AINRC in 2011.
Under his new party, he returned to power the same year, later losing office in 2016 to the Congress-led alliance, before reclaiming the Chief Minister’s post in 2021.
With his latest swearing-in, Rangasamy continues to maintain a dominant presence in Puducherry politics, leading the NDA government into another term amid a shifting regional political landscape.