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