N. Rangasamy to Take Oath as Puducherry CM for Record Fifth Term

AINRC founder N. Rangasamy will take oath as the Chief Minister of Puducherry for the fifth time on May 13, following the NDA’s decisive victory in the recent Assembly elections.

Official sources said Lieutenant Governor K. Kailashnathan will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Rangasamy at a ceremony scheduled at 9.47 a.m. on Wednesday at Lok Nivas in Puducherry.

With this, the veteran leader further strengthens his position as one of Puducherry’s most influential political figures. Of his five terms as Chief Minister, Rangasamy served twice while in the Congress before launching the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) in 2011. The upcoming tenure will be his third term under the AINRC banner.

The NDA comfortably crossed the majority mark in the 30-member Assembly after the April 9 polls. The AINRC secured victory in 12 of the 16 constituencies it contested, while alliance partner BJP won four of the 10 seats it fought. The AIADMK and Lakshiya Jananayaga Katchi added one seat each, taking the alliance tally to 18 seats .

The opposition failed to pose a serious challenge, with rival parties contesting separately and falling short of mounting a united campaign against the NDA. Political analysts believe Rangasamy’s personal popularity, welfare-oriented image and fragmented opposition contributed significantly to the alliance’s victory.

Despite the coalition returning to power, there is still no official confirmation on whether BJP legislators will join the ministry during Wednesday’s swearing-in ceremony or whether only Rangasamy will take oath initially.

Often referred to by supporters as “Junior Kamaraj” for his simple public image and welfare politics, Rangasamy has remained a central figure in Puducherry politics for more than two decades.