Rangasamy unseats Congress, set to form govt in Puducherry

Making a spectacular electoral debut, the All India NR Congress in alliance with AIADMK today secured a two-thirds majority in the 30-member Puducherry Assembly, ending the DMK-supported Congress rule.

Former chief minister N Rangasamy led the AINRC he formed on the eve of the polls to power with the party winning 15 seats and its ally AIADMK five.

Congress ended with a tally of seven and DMK two. DMK rebel VMC Shivakumar won the Neravi T R Pattinam segment.

It was a sweet revenge for Rangasamy who floated his own outfit after quitting RPT quitting Congress about two years after he was removed as chief minister in the face of revolt against his leadership.

Rangasamy, named the chief ministerial candidate of the AINRC-AIADMK front, emerged victorious from both Kadirgamam and Indira Nagar constituencies that he contested.

Chief Minister V Vaithilingam, who succeeded Rangasamy, won but Welfare Minister M Kandasamy and PWD Minister M O H F Shajahan lost as also Assembly Speaker R Radhakrishnan.

A jubilant Rangasamy said the outcome was a verdict by people and he would soon decide when to meet the Lt Governor and stake claim for forming the government.

CPI, CPI (M) and  DMDK, which were part of the AINRC led alliance, however drew a blank contesting one seat each.

In the Congress front, PMK lost both the seats it contested and VCK tasted defeat in the lone seat it was allocated.