Following the electoral victory that secured a second successive term, AINRC president and Chief Minister designate N Rangasamy has reportedly decided to contain the BJP by scaling down its representation in the ministry to one post, in addition to the Deputy Speaker’s post.
Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy ANI
Following the electoral victory that secured a second successive term, AINRC president and Chief Minister designate N Rangasamy has reportedly decided to contain the BJP by scaling down its representation in the ministry to one post, in addition to the Deputy Speaker’s post.
While the saffron party hoped to repeat the previous term, where it held the Speaker’s post plus two ministerial posts, Rangasamy is prepared to yield only one ministerial post. He also declined to meet BJP leaders, including Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, on Thursday to discuss cabinet formation, saying he would meet them later on.
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In the 2026 election, the AINRC won 12 seats in the 30-member house, while the BJP’s tally is four. Other NDA constituents, the AIADMK and the LJK, secured one seat each. The BJP also claimed the support of an independent who defeated the AINRC candidate, which Rangasamy finds unpalatable. If the BJP remains unrelenting, sources said Rangasamy could explore teaming up the TVK and independents to form a government. While the TVK has two seats, independents have won five.
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Earlier in the day, Rangasamy submitted his resignation to Lt Governor Kailashnathan, paving the way for the formation of the new government. Ahead of tendering the resignation, he visited the samadhi of his spiritual guru, Appa Paithiya, at Salem on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, V Vaithilingam, MP, resigned as PCC president, owning moral responsibility for the party’s humiliating defeat in the election. Touted as the Congress CM face, he was defeated in Thattanchavady constituency. He sent the resignation letter to AICC president Mallikarjuna Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
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