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28 Mar 2024, Edition - 3180, Thursday

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Coimbatore

Puducherry gets new Chief Minister

Covai Post Network

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Former minister in PMO, V Narayansamy named as the CLP leader of Puducherry. Other contender PCC chief A Namasivayam’s supporters expressed their ire, but it was an exercise in futility say Congress leaders.

Finally, the durbar at No 10 Janpath decided. That Puducherry’s new chief minister should be none other than former union minister in PMO of Dr Manmohan Singh, V Narayansamy. He had not even contested the assembly polls but had made oblique hints at his keenness to become the chief minister.

To be fair, he ran a very tough and aggressive campaign, worked very hard and ensured that the faction ridden Congress managed to reap the benefit of anti-incumbency in Puducherry. The alliance with the DMK as a junior patner helped too, as the Congress won 15 and DMK 2 in the 30 member assembly.

The Congress was also helped by the fact that TN chief minister and AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa was out to take revenge against NR Rangasamy, who ditched Amma at the eleventh hour after taking her help to win the elections.

This was her main plank in the election, which hurt the breakaway Congress leader. But the Congress, functioning like an effective opposition in Puducherry, mounted a spirited campaign and had sensed victory very early on into the campaign.

Narayansamy was very aggressive and said that Rangasamy government had ruined the state and because of its faulty policies and practices, industries were fleeing Puduccherry and new investments were not coming in.

On Saturday after being named the leader of the CLP, Narayansamy told press persons that his priority would be to bring Puducherry back on track, improve the industrial environment and step up job creation. Unemployment levels had gone up sharply, he said adding “infrastructure had completely collapsed.”

It would require a big effort to get the state back on track, he said. Expecting a smooth run of the party as well as government, despite the factions that exist in the party, the chief minister designate said that he would strive to take everybody along.

With vast experience in government and managing party affairs in different states, Narayanswamy is well equipped to handle the tiny state of Puducherry, that is also having a new governor, Kiran Bedi who is expected to take oath of office and secrecy on Sunday.

Supporters of PCC chief A Namasivayam, who was widely expected to be the chief minister if the Congress won, expressed their anger and held demonstrations in Puducherry.

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