By IANS,
Puducherry : Forming a new party – the All India NR Congress (AINRC) – only two months back, N. Rangasamy is all set to return to the chief minister’s post in Puducherry.
In the process he spoilt the chances of the Congress to score a hat-trick of victories here.
The AINRC-AIADMK combine has won 18 seats in the 30 member house.
The AINRC, which was launched in February after Rangasamy parted ways with the Congress, contested 17 seats and shared the rest with alliance partners – AIADMK (10) and one each to the DMDK, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Communist Party of India (CPI).
The Congress also contested in 17 seats and had given 10 seats to the DMK, two to the PMK and one to VCK.
For Rangasamy, a 60-year-old bachelor, being at the helm of affairs in Puducherry is nothing new.
A former Congressmen, Rangasamy was the chief Minister of the union territory from 2001 to 2008.
A man of simple life style, the chief minister would surprise the people by touring his constituency on his two-wheeler.
Rangasamy is largely responsible for developing the infrastructure in Puducherry. One of his major achievements as chief minister was the provision of free education in government schools and the breakfast and mid-day meal scheme for poor school children.
In 2008, the Congress high command asked him to step down from the chief minister post owing to internal problems.
The party replaced Rangasamy with V. Vaithilingam.
Soon after forming his own party, Rangasamy entered into the alliance with the AIADMK.
According to party officials, Rangasamy plays tennis and has one elder brother N. Adikesavan.