AINRC founder N. Rangasamy was sworn-in as chief minister of Puducherry for a record fourth time. He will lead a coalition government of BJP members in his Cabinet.

Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Rangasamy.

All India NR Congress (AINRC) won 10 seats and the BJP six in the 30-member house, giving them the simple majority to form the government.

There are six independents elected to the House, who are by and large supporters of Rangasamy. The DMK emerged victorious from six segments of the 13 seats it contested. The Congress won only two out of the 14 seats it contested.

CM for fourth time

Known to be a simple, soft-spoken and accessible leader, Rangasamy is famous for driving around in a two-wheeler across the streets of Puducherry, even as a CM.

A former Congress veteran, he floated his All India NR Congress in 2011 after being replaced as the CM.

Rangasamy started off his electoral politics on an unsuccessful note by losing his first Assembly poll from Thattanchavady in 1990 when he was defeated by his political arch rival V. Pethaperumal of the Janata Dal.

However, he was elected from the same segment the next year and was rewarded with the Agriculture portfolio in the cabinet.

Again in 1996, he won on a Congress ticket.

In 2001, when the Congress won again, he took over the reins of the UT and continued to helm Puducherry after leading the party to a successive win five years later as well.

In 2011, Rangasamy floated his AINRC, which joined hands with the J. Jayalalithaa-led AIADMK and won the then polls.

The AINRC came out successful with 15 members and had the support of one independent which together gave Rangasamy the minimum strength of 16 on its side and he formed the government.

The AINRC contested the 2016 poll on its own but failed to ensure a clinching performance, with the Congress-DMK combined with 17 members forming the government.

Rangasamy became opposition leader in 2016. 

Manorama Yearbook app is now available on Google Play Store and iOS App Store