Two other cabinet members--Malladi Krishna Rao from the regional party and A Namassivayam of the BJP, also took oath as ministers in the AINRC-led NDA government.

Lt Governor K Kailashnathan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the CM and his cabinet colleagues. Rangasamy took oath in the name of God. Rao took oath in Telugu. He represents Yanam, an enclave of Puducherry in Andhra Pradesh.

BJP national president Nitin Nabin and senior leader BL Santhosh were present on the dais.

The NDA had won the April 9 polls in the UT and retained power. President Droupadi Murmu had appointed Rangasamy as CM.

The oath-taking followed the Puducherry Assembly election results on May 4. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) retained power in Puducherry. NR Congress won 12 seats and BJP four in the 30-member Puducherry assembly. AIADMK won one seat. DMK won five seats, and Congress got one. TVK, which made a spectacular debut in Tamil Nadu, also opened its account, winning two seats.