N. Rangaswamy (Tamil: ரங்கசாமி) (born August 4, 1950) is Indian politician who served as Chief Minister of the Union Territory of Puducherry from 2001 to 2008. He belongs to the Congress party. Under his dynamic leadership, Pondicherry was turned into a prosperous State. In the India Today Survey 2006, Pondicherry was acclaimed as the best state to live, and awarded as one of the Best States by the Vice President of India.
Rangaswamy was largely instrumental in developing the union territory on par with the Metros. Roads- including the ones in villages, were metalled and tarred. Water, electricity, housing were provided for the poor. Note worthy achievements in education include free education through good government schools, fee reimebersements for professional/ non professional college students. Any state has to be run like a CEO of any corporation and he did just that. His commercial acumen can be well appreciated by the facts through his initiatives like Uzhavar Sandhai (farmers market), where in farmers can sell their produce directly to the consumers. PAPSCO is the large co-operative body which has gone ahead in retail revolution long back by selling medicines to crackers.
Rangaswamy, even after becoming Chief Minister, rides a motorcycle in his constituency, Thattanchavadi and went without security. Any person irrespective of religion, caste, creed, poor, rich can meet him in his house during his morning meetings.[citation needed]
A ardent follower of Perunthalaivar Kamaraj, he has maintained his Mr."Honest" image. An law student, who started his career as an advocate, failed to make into the assembly in his first election. In 1991 he entered the assembly from Thattanchavadi as an Agriculture Minister. In 1996 he was re-elected from the same constituency with a huge marigin and was appointed as PWD Minister. In 2000 he was forced to take up the Education Department portfolio. In 2001 he again won by huge margin from the same constituency breaking the myth of education ministers not returning to the assembly again and became chief minister. In 2006 interestingly his opponent was able to gather less than 500 votes, such is his popularity in the constituency.
His Mid-day Meal Scheme and Breakfast schemes for the poor school children has won accolades from masses. His new schemes like reimberising the school and college tuition fees to students has wiped tears from the largely dominated lower and middle class society of Pondicherry. His welfare schemes include distribution of Wheat through PDS for the poor Diabetics who have crossed the age of 60.
Rangaswamy resigned as Chief Minister on 28 August 2008, Congress has asked to resign him due to the internal politics. He has been backstabbed by Mr.Narayanaswamy quench for the power thirst. Rangaswamy was succeeded by Vaithilingam on 4 September.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N._Rangaswamy
