Puducherry: V. Narayanasamy is sitting pretty in his Chief Ministerial chair in Puducherry, which is an unusual sight to behold considering that the administration of the Union Territory has never been smooth for most of his predecessors. It had been common finding the Chief Minister in Pondicherry and later Puducherry struggling from almost day one due to the rebels within the party and the cabinet, and a very unfriendly Lt Governor and a hostile New Delhi.
Mr Narayanasamy took oath of office a month ago, on June 6. It would be too early to say the remainder of the five-year term would be a bed of roses for the former Minister of State in PMO, but considering his shrewd political skills and his closeness to the Gandhis, his smile is not unjustified.
“I want to take Puducherry on the path of development and I don't envisage any opposition or threat from any quarter. Lt Governor Kiran Bedi has been very understanding and cooperative right from the beginning,” Narayanasamy said in an interview to DC, even as his secretary Shanmugam kept turning away visitors crowding the CM's chamber.
“The previous government (led by N. Rangasamy) left behind huge debts. They did not utilise funds given by Union Government and never showed interest in implementing Centrally-sponsored schemes. But I am confident of overcoming all impediments and achieving my development goal. Puducherry is in for a major overhaul,” he said.
