Pondy ministry to be sworn in on May 18

Pondicherry, May 14(UNI) Congress Legislature Party leader N Rangasamy will be sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of the Union Territory on May 18.

According to party sources here, Mr Rangasamy who was elected CLP leader yesterday, will leave for New Delhi along with PCC(I) president P Shanmugham to get the All India Congress Committee (AICC)'s nod for the list of his cabinet colleagues.

Meanwhile, according to reports, the Chief Minister designate prefers to head a coalition government and is trying to rope in the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) to ensure a stable ministry and to represent Karaikal region in his cabinet. However, party sources refused to confirm it.

If efforts for a coalition fail, the Karaikal region will not be represented in the cabinet. Here, all the four candidates were defeated while the DMK retained both its seats.

The three independents (two Congress rebels and one DMK rebel) who won the election had also extended support to the Rangasamy government and letters in this regard were handed over to him here yesterday.

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