V Narayanasamy named Puducherry CM despite not contesting polls

In a move that’s likely to create tensions in an already fractured Congress, All India Congress Committee general secretary V Narayanasamy has been named the chief minister of Puducherry even though he did not contest the 2016 assembly polls.

In a move that’s likely to create tensions in an already fractured Congress, All India Congress Committee general secretary V Narayanasamy has been named the chief minister of Puducherry even though he did not contest the 2016 assembly polls.

Narayanasamy has held many roles, including that of a Union minister and a member of the Rajya Sabha, in his long political career. (Photo courtesy: wwandhrawishesh.com)

Narayanasamy has held many roles — including that of a Union minister and a member of the Rajya Sabha — in his long political career, but it was on Saturday that he achieved his long-cherished dream of becoming the chief minister of the union territory.

Read: From first woman IPS to L-G of Puducherry: The journey of Kiran Bedi

Narayanasamy managed to secure the backing of a majority of the Congress’ count of 15 members in the Puducherry assembly — enough to get him elected over regional party president A Namachivayam and two-time chief minister A Vaithilingam. The former French colony has 30 MLAs in total.

The Congress party stormed back into power in Puducherry on May 18 after defeating N Rangasamy's splinter group, the All India NR Congress.