N Rangasamy takes oath as Puducherry chief minister

All India NR Congress founder N Rangasamy on Wednesday took oath as the chief minister of Puducherry for the fifth time.

He was administered the oath of office by Lieutenant Governor K Kailashnathan. Bharatiya Janata Party leader A Namassivayam and All India NR Congress’ Malladi Krishna Rao were also sworn in as ministers in the second National Democratic Alliance government in the Union Territory.

The National Democratic Alliance, led by the All India NR Congress, secured a victory in the Puducherry Assembly elections on May 4, winning 18 of the 30 seats.

The Opposition Secular Progressive Alliance, mainly comprising the Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, won six seats. Actor-politician Vijay’s newly-founded Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam won two seats and its ally, Neyam Makkal Kazhagam, secured one win.

புதுச்சேரி 2026 சட்டமன்றத் தேர்தலில் நமது தேசிய ஜனநாயக கூட்டணியின் மாபெரும் வெற்றியை தொடர்ந்து, திரு. @CM_NRangaswamy அவர்கள் மீண்டும் முதலமைச்சராக பதவியேற்றார்..! pic.twitter.com/mXaI3dPF3k— BJP Puducherry (@BJP4Puducherry) May 13, 2026

Although the Puducherry Assembly has 33 seats, three of its members are nominated by the Union government. They enjoy the same powers as the 30 MLAs who are directly elected.

Rangasamy had won the Assembly elections from the Thattanchavady and Mangalam seats.

The 76-year-old had served as the chief minister of the Union Territory from 2001 to 2006 and again from 2006 to 2008 as a Congress leader. After founding the All India NR...

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