Rangasamy alone to be sworn in as Pondy CM today

Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan would induct Rangasamy as Chief Minister at a brief session on the precincts of Raj Nivas here. Official sources said Rangasamy alone would be inducted as Chief Minister although he would be heading an NDA dispensation which has the BJP as the other constituent. 

According to party sources, the swearing in of other Ministers, including those from BJP will take place in the next few days. 

Usually, the strength of Cabinet in Puducherry would be six, including Chief Minister. There is however a reported move to have one Deputy Chief Minister now although there is no precedent in this regard. 

A Namassivayam, who joined the BJP in January after quitting the Congress is tipped for the post of Deputy Chief Minister. The concurrence of the Centre is awaited for the appointment of Deputy Chief Minister, BJP sources said. The AINRC bagged 10 seats out of the 16 it contested in the April 6 polls while the BJP garnered six out of the nine seats it contested. 

The total strength of the Assembly is 30 and sixteen is the magic number for formation of a ministry. The AINRC and BJP has a combined strength of 16.