The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, led by N. Rangasamy, took office in Puducherry on Wednesday. Rangasamy, a veteran leader, was sworn in as Chief Minister for the fifth time at the Puducherry Lok Bhavan. The ceremony saw the Lieutenant Governor, K. Kailasanathan, administering the oath to Rangasamy and the newly appointed ministers.
Rangasamy’s new Cabinet includes BJP MLA A. Namassivayam and All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) MLA Malladi Krishna Rao as ministers. This marks Rangasamy’s second consecutive term as Chief Minister under the NDA alliance, solidifying his stature as a key political figure in Puducherry. With this swearing-in, Rangasamy becomes the first person to hold the Chief Minister’s office in Puducherry for five terms, setting a new record.
In the recently concluded Puducherry Assembly elections, the NDA alliance, led by Rangasamy’s All India N.R. Congress, secured a comfortable majority. The alliance holds 12 out of the 30 Assembly seats, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) having four legislators, and the AIADMK and Latchiya Jananayaga Katchi each having one member. The continuity of Rangasamy’s administration is seen as a stabilizing factor in Puducherry’s political landscape, particularly amidst the significant role played by regional parties.
The new government is expected to prioritize welfare initiatives, infrastructure development, employment creation, and enhancing coordination between the union territory and the Central government. Plans for expanding the ministry are in the pipeline, with three additional members anticipated to join the Cabinet soon as part of the alliance-sharing agreement. The swearing-in event was attended by senior BJP leaders, alliance partners, elected representatives, and party supporters at Lok Bhavan, with stringent security measures in place.
