Go ahead to Pondy Cabinet expansion !

uducherry, Jun 2 (UNI) The issue of expansion of N Rangasamy’s Cabinet seems to have resolved on Wednesday, almost a month after swearing-in as the new Chief Minister of Union Territory Puducherry.
According to sources, Mr Rangasamy, founder of the N R Congress, has agreed to provide two minister berths and the Speaker post to its alliance BJP. If it is acceptable to the BJP, who has been demanding three minister berths including Deputy Chief Minister and Speaker post, then the ongoing crisis is certainly over and the Cabinet expansion will take place in a couple of days.
Meanwhile, the BJP convened a meeting of its elected members in the evening to discuss the issue and take a final decision. Apart from the six elected BJP members, three nominated members and two of the three Independent members who have extended support to the BJP, took part in the meeting chaired by party state president V Saminathan. Talking to mediapersons after the meeting, Mr Saminathan said that the BJP and N R Congress had sorted out the post-sharing issue. “N R Congress had agreed to share the post of Speaker and ministers with the BJP. However, the number of ministers in the BJP kitty will be known later,” he stated.
Mr Saminathan said that the BJP high command will finalise the name of the ministers and Speaker and they will be sworn-in shortly.
He clarified that there is no misunderstanding between NR Congress and the BJP and accused the Congress and DMK of trying to taint the image of the new Pondy government.
The N R Congress has forged an alliance with the BJP and fought the just-concluded Assembly elections in which the former won ten and the latter six seats. The six BJP members gave the letter of support to Mr Rangasamy to form the government and he was sworn-in as the chief minister on May 7.
However, the very next day, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was admitted to a private hospital in Chennai. Mr Rangasamy returned to Puducherry after recovering from his illness did not show much interest in expanding his ministry allegedly due to the pressure from the BJP for a more say in the Cabinet.
All the elected members including Rangasmay had taken the oath as a member of the Territorial Assembly on May 26.
The power tussle continued in the UT as the BJP stuck to its demand of the post of Deputy Chief Minister which is not in practice in Pondy.
The Union Home ministry will have to give its nod for the same as well as the creation of the post of a seventh minister here which was being demanded by the BJP on recommendation from the chief minister.
Mr Rangasamy has remained silent so far, but on Wednesday agreed to give two minister berths and Speaker posts to the BJP.
The ball is now in the BJP’s court.
UNI PAB PS2218