U.T. CM has his task cut out

Major challenges await All India NR Congress leader N. Rangasamy, who took over as Chief Minister of Puducherry for a record fourth time on Friday, as he would be be heading a coalition government for

Major challenges await All India NR Congress leader N. Rangasamy, who took over as Chief Minister of Puducherry for a record fourth time on Friday, as he would be be heading a coalition government for the first time. He became the Chief Minister in 2001 as a Congress nominee after Puducherry Munnetra Congress, headed by P. Kannan, merged his regional outfit with the national party. He was sworn in Chief Minister for the second time in 2006 but was dethroned mid-way in 2008 due to a rebellion. He later broke ranks and founded the AINRC, which he guided to a historic win in 2011, bagging15 of the 17 seats the party contested in the 30-member Assembly. Dumping his pre-poll partner, AIADMK, the AINRC chief formed a government with an Independent’s support. Now into the fourth term as Chief Minister with the AINRC having just 10 seats, things are far different politically as he is dependent on the ambitious ally BJP, which has already demanded a huge slice of the Ministries, including the Deputy Chief Minister’s post. After Mr. Rangasamy, along with BJP leaders, met Lt, Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on May 3 to stake claim to form the government, there were reports that the entire cabinet would assume office at one go.