The Chief Minister did try to hold on to power by calling on Sonia Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi. However, while Sonia seemed to listen to the majority—of the 10 elected Congress members in the UT Assembly, Rangasamy had the backing of only two—Karunanidhi stood by his earlier stand that it was an internal issue of the Congress. The DMK, though officially the Opposition Party with seven MLAs, are supporting the Government from outside.

The last straw was Monday’s CLP meeting where he had to prove his majority to continue in power. On that tense day, when supporters of different factions attacked each other and damaged public transport, it became clear that Rangasamy was up against insurmountable opposition within his own party. The PCC then authorised the Congress president to take a final decision.

Vailthilingam, a 58-year-old veteran who has been elected to the Puducherry Assembly six times, was the Chief Minister between 1991 and 1996. Rangasamy was then a minister in his Cabinet.