Keeping ally BJP Guessing, Rangasamy Plays the Cards Close to his Chest

Though a cabinet had been formed in the Union Territory of Puducherry more than 50 days after the election results, the ministers are yet to be allocated portfolios. Tasting power for the first time in the former French enclave as a junior partner in the government, the BJP has two ministers. But, and like the other ministers, they are kept waiting without any work, writes MC Rajan, Bureau Chief, ETV Bharat, Chennai

Chennai: Though a cabinet had been formed in the Union Territory of Puducherry more than 50 days after the election results, the ministers are yet to be allocated portfolios. Tasting power for the first time in the former French enclave as a junior partner in the government, the BJP has two ministers. But, and like the other ministers, they are kept waiting without any work.

Making it clear that the BJP cannot dictate terms, Chief Minister and All India NR Congress (AINRC) president N Rangasamy is keeping his national ally guessing. With the Chief Minister remaining firm, the saffron party had already made a climb down from its demand for 3 ministerial berths and Dy CM post. A former Congress leader, Rangasamy, is playing his cards close to his chest, taking advantage of the BJP's predicament.

Inexplicable is the delay. Ministers in the union territory of Puducherry are without work as Chief Minister N Rangasamy is yet to allocate them the portfolios through nearly a week has passed since they were inducted into the ministry. There was a sigh of relief when the five ministers, including two from the BJP, were sworn in more than 50 days after the assembly election results. But, it was not to be. The Chief Minister is keeping everyone, especially the alliance partner BJP, guessing to no end.

The five ministers do visit their office but are clueless about their function. While K Lakshminarayanan, C Djeacoumar and Chandira Priyanka are from the AINRC, the BJP is represented by A Namasivayam, who defected from the Congress ahead of the elections, and AK Sai J Saravana Kumar. They were inducted into the cabinet on Sunday last which was expected to put an end to the prolonged stalemate. Prior to the cabinet formation, there was bitter wrangling for ministerial slots within the AINRC as well as the saffron party. Supporters of BJP legislator John Kumar staged a demonstration in front of the party office, demanding that he be accommodated in the ministry.

Riding on the shoulders of the AINRC, the BJP secured 6 seats in the 33-member Territorial Assembly and the party's strength went up to 9 with the three legislators being nominated. Besides the 10 from the AINRC, the NDA government has the support of three independents. The Congress, which headed the previous government, and its ally, DMK, have two and six seats respectively while there are three more independents who are not supporting the government.

Even during his previous tenure, Rangasamy was known to keep power in his hands and used to take spiritual advice prior to any important decision making. He was sworn in on May 7 as he was down with covid. Later, he remained inaccessible due to health reasons. But, the Chief Minister dragging his feet on portfolio allocation for long is baffling one and all.

This is testing the patience of the BJP as well. When the national ally demanded Deputy Chief Ministership and three cabinet berths, Rangasamy vetoed it saying that there was no precedent of Puducherry having a Dy CM. And he also stood firm in granting only two berths in the ministry. The BJP finalising the two was also a reason for the delay in ministry formation as were multiple claimants from among its ranks.

Meanwhile, BJP legislators and the three independents supporting the saffron party had an audience on Thursday with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the national capital. Emerging from the meeting, Puducherry BJP president V Saminathan, who led the delegation, told the media that they have put forth demands for the development of the Union Territory.

Observers opine that the Chief Minister has withstood the pressure from BJP and proved that he could not be browbeaten. Postponing the portfolio allocation is explained as his way of dealing with the local BJP who had sought the intervention of their national leadership to secure a lion's share in the government. Having tamed the BJP as well as those who entertained high expectations in his own party, will Rangasamy turn to governance? For, Puducherry needs a functioning government.