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Rangaswami to be sworn-in on Monday as Pondy CM
N Rangaswami, second in command in the Shanmugam ministry, was on Friday unanimously elected CLP leader to be the next chief minister. He will be sworn-in as chief minister of Pondicherry on Monday.
N Rangaswami, second in command in the Shanmugam ministry, was on Friday unanimously elected CLP leader to be the next chief minister. He will be sworn-in as chief minister of Pondicherry on Monday.
Rangaswami, a dark horse in Pondicherry politics, hails from the most backward ‘Vanniya’ community, a dominant caste in the union territory.
Congress move to make a ‘Vanniya’ as chief minister was seen by political observers in Pondicherry as an attempt to curb the growing influence of PMK, a ‘Vanniya’ based party in the union territory. Incidentally, it was for the first time a ‘Vanniya’ is becoming chief minister of the union territory.
High command observers - Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ramesh Chennithala - held individual consultations with the MLAs to arrive at a consensus on electing a CLP leader. Though some MLAs favoured former chief minister V Vaithilingam for the top his name was not considered as he was yet to be cleared from a case of inducing TMC MLAs to defect by offering Rs 9 lakh.
Shanmugam submitted his resignation to the Lt Governor Rajani Rai, before Rangaswami staked his claim to form ministry.
Rangaswami was accompanied by outgoing chief minister Shanmugam, Congress MPs M O H Farrok Marikar, Chennithala and Puducherry Makkal Congress leader P Kannan.
Rangswami`s claim has been forwarded to the President for appointment as Chief Minister, Raj Niwas sources said. Bureau Report
Shanmugam submitted his resignation to the Lt Governor Rajani Rai, before Rangaswami staked his claim to form ministry.
Rangaswami was accompanied by outgoing chief minister Shanmugam, Congress MPs M O H Farrok Marikar, Chennithala and Puducherry Makkal Congress leader P Kannan.
Rangswami`s claim has been forwarded to the President for appointment as Chief Minister, Raj Niwas sources said. Bureau Report