Puducherry (PTI): Senior Congress leader V Vaithilingam will be the new Chief Minister of Puducherry replacing incumbent N Rangasamy who resigned on Thursday in the wake of a rebellion against him by his cabinet colleagues. The Congress Legislature Party, which met hours after Rangasamy resigned from the top post, elected Vaithilingam, a former Chief Minister, as the new leader, paving the way for him to succeed.

After the meeting, Vaithilingam along with AICC observer K B Krishnamoorthy, who supervised the CLP meet, and PMK MP Prof Ramadoss drove to Raj Nivas and handed over a letter to Lt Governor Govind Singh Gurjar informing him about the election of the CLP leader. "We requested the Lt Governor to invite Vaithilingam to form the next government in the Union Territory," Krishnamoorthy told reporters.

Earlier in the day, Rangasamy tendered his resignation to the Lt Governor, who asked him to continue in office till alternative arrangements were made. Krishnamoorthy said letters of "unconditional" support from allies -- DMK and PMK -- and three Independents were also handed over to the Lt Governor.

Asked if the CPI was supporting the new Government, he said "that question does not arise." On whether the swearing-in ceremony would take place on September one, he said "hopefully so" and added that the size of the ministry would be six as per the constitutional provisions, he said.

Vaithilingam said it was a mandate from Congress chief Sonia Gandhi for him to discharge his duty as Chief Minister. All welfare measures evolved by the previous administration will be continued, he said.