Former Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, whose party swept the Assembly polls in the Union Territory, on Saturday said a decision on whether forming a coalition government will be decided soon.
“At the earliest, I will assume office as Chief Minister of Puducherry and the question of whether or not it will be a coalition government will be decided later,” Mr. Rangasamy, whose party does not need the support of ally AIADMK, said.
He was speaking after offering poojas at the Sathguru Appa temple here, along with newly elected 14 party legislators.
He said the spectacular victory of AINRC was made possible due to the ‘good work’ done in his earlier stint at the top post. “People reposed faith in me and voted me to power,” he said.
Explaining the significance of visiting this temple, he said an ascetic there had long ago prophesised that he would one day be a force to reckon with, dismissing his fears.
“The Swamy, who passed away in 2002, had said I will one day be in a position to do service to others and people will come to me for help. Though I was sceptical, I started flourishing and joined Congress.”
“Before starting my party two months back, I prayed to an idol of the Swamy at the temple and I won,” Mr. Rangasamy said.
In a spectacular electoral debut, AINRC with AIADMK had on Friday secured a two-thirds majority in the 30 member Puducherry Assembly, ending the DMK-supported Congress rule.
Mr. Rangasamy led the AINRC he formed on the eve of the polls to power with the party winning 15 seats and AIADMK five.
He had floated his own outfit after quitting Congress about two years after he was removed as Chief Minister in the face of revolt against his leadership.
Mr. Rangasamy, named Chief Ministerial candidate of the AINRC-AIADMK front, emerged victorious from both Kadirgamam and Indira Nagar constituencies that he contested.
CPI, CPI(M) and DMDK, part of the AINRC-led alliance, however drew a blank contesting one seat each.
