Rangasamy sworn in as 15th CM of Pondycherry

Pondicherry, May 18: Mr N Rangasamy was today sworn in as the 15th Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Pondicherry.

Pondicherry Lt.Governor M M Lakhera administered the oath of office and secrecy to Mr Rangasamy at a simple function before the Rajnivas at 0910 hours today.

This is the second tenure of Mr Rangasamy in sucession.

Mr Rangasamy alone was sworn in today. As the list of his cabinet collegues were yet to be finalised, following demand from several elected members for ministerial berth, the swearing-in of the ministers are expected to be held in a couple of days. A massive crowd which gathered at the Bharathi park burst into cheers, as Mr Rangasamy took the oath.

Earlier Pondicherry Chief Secretary C S Khairwal read out the warrant of appointment from President APJ Abdul Kalam.

AICC Treasurer Motilal Vora, General Secretaries B K Hariprasad and V Narayanasamy, Secretary Sudhakar Reddy, leaders of alliance partners and several members elected to the territorial assembly were among others, who attended the function.

Fifty-six-year old N.Rangasamy was today sworn in as the 15th chief minister of the union territory of Pondicherry for the second time in sucession.

Born to Natesa Gounder and Panchalai Ammal on August 8,1950 at Thilaspet in Thattanchavady constituency, Mr.Rangasamy a bachelor showed an inclination towards politics even in his school days.

A commerce and Law graduate,Mr.Rangasamy's maiden entry into the assembly was not smooth.He was defeated by Mr.V.Pethaperumal of the Janata Dal in 1990 at Thattanchavady.

However, he won the 1991,1996,2001 and 2006 elections from the same constituency.He was the agriculture minister in the Vaithilingam cabinet from 1991 to 1996 and education minister in the Shanmugham ministry which was formed after the collapse of the R V Janakiraman ministry in 2000.

The PWD minister in the Shanmugham cabinet when he formed the ministry a second time in 2001,Mr.Rangasamy became the chief minister on October 27 in the same year following Mr.Shanmugham's resignation.

Mr Rangasamy alone was sworn in today. As the list of his cabinet collegues were yet to be finalised, following demand from several elected members for ministerial berth, the swearing-in of the ministers are expected to be held in a couple of days. A massive crowd which gathered at the Bharathi park burst into cheers, as Mr Rangasamy took the oath.

Earlier Pondicherry Chief Secretary C S Khairwal read out the warrant of appointment from President APJ Abdul Kalam.

AICC Treasurer Motilal Vora, General Secretaries B K Hariprasad and V Narayanasamy, Secretary Sudhakar Reddy, leaders of alliance partners and several members elected to the territorial assembly were among others, who attended the function.

UNI