When the Narayanasamy-led Government is sworn in on Monday, the Congress would be regaining the reins of its bastion, which was breached five years ago by a break-away faction.
The Union Territory of Puducherry has had 17 Ministries since 1963 and the Congress was holding the reins of power on most of these occasions.
However, the Congress dominance in the Union Territory has come about largely owing to the success of strategic alliances with other parties. In 2001, the Congress formed a Ministry under the stewardship of N. Rangasamy and again in 2006. But the Congress Government headed by Mr. Rangasamy faced a crisis from within the members of the Cabinet which ultimately resulted in him stepping down. He was replaced by Mr. Vaithilingam in 2008 and this Government was in office till 2011.
Meanwhile, after lying low for a while, Mr. Rangasamy broke clean from the Congress and formed his own party, the AINRC which went on to form the Government with the outside support of an Independent legislator in the 2011 elections.
This time, the Congress returns to an all-too familiar saddle of governance in the UT with the critical support of the DMK. The party has 15 MLAs of its own, which is a considerable improvement on its position in 2001 when with 11 MLAs it formed a Government with support of the four MLAs of the Puducherry Makkal Congress and an Independent MLA.
In 2006, the Congress had only 10 legislators when it combined with the DMK to form a Ministry. In fact, this is the third instance in recent history that the Congress is forming a Government with the support of the DMK after 2006 and 1980.
Though the Congress now commands half the strength of the 30-member House, the Narayanasamy-headed Government will be aware of the need for maintaining an excellent rapport with its ally as it needs the support of the two DMK MLAs to sustain simple majority.
This is particularly so as the DMK is not part of the Ministry. In this scenario, it becomes important that the DMK’s voice and views in matters of policy are accorded prominence, political observers feel.
The new Government has several challenges ahead as the Chief Minister would need to take into confidence not only his party MLAs but also the DMK legislators when important decisions are taken.
Another challenge for Mr. Narayanasamy would be forging a cordial and constructive work dynamic with Lt. Governor Kiran Bedi who, in the short span of assuming charge, has been intent on acquiring a grasp of the city and its issues as quickly as possible, in addition to launching mass contact initiatives. “In Puducherry the powers of the Lieutenant Governor are more decisive than the powers of a State Governor since it is a Union Territory. The Executive and the Legislature have to see eye to eye on several occasions,” said a senior Congress leader.
The immediate task for Mr. Narayanasamy is to adopt a full-fledged budget for the fiscal since only Appropriation Bill was passed by the outgoing Government in March, he added.
