V. Vaithilingam

V.Vaithilingam
V. Vaithilingam at 27th Flower, Vegetable and Fruit Show, Pondicherry
15th Chief Minister of Puducherry
In office September 4, 2008 – May 15, 2011
Preceded by	N. Rangaswamy
Succeeded by	N. Rangaswamy
Constituency	Kamaraj Nagar
9th Chief Minister of Puducherry
In office July 4, 1991 – May 13, 1996
Preceded by	M. D. R. Ramachandran
Succeeded by	R. V. Janakiraman
Personal details
Born	(1950-10-05) October 5, 1950 Cuddalore,Tamil Nadu
Political party	Congress
Spouse(s)	Sasikala
Children	1 son and 1 daughter
Residence	Pondicherry, Puducherry
Religion	Hinduism

V. Vaithilingam (born October 5, 1950, Tamil வைத்தியலிங்கம்) is an Indian politician who is the former Chief Minister of Puducherry. He held that position from 1991 to 1996 and has been Chief Minister again from 2008-2011. Vaithilingam is credited with leading a stable and efficient government in Puducherry State through a complete five-year term during his prior period in office. He is a senior legislator serving six consecutive terms.

He belongs to Pondicherry's most politically influential family. His paternal grandfather late Vaithilinga Reddiar was the Mayor of Nettappakkam commune during the French rule in Puducherry and his father V. Venkatasubha Reddiar was also a Chief minister of Puducherry. Vaithilingam by nature was a reformist and a dynamic leader with constructive views for the development of his State and with such laudable views he headed the Puducherry Government from 1991 to 1996 and the Congress Legislative party from 1991 to 2000. His priorities as Chief Minister was to minimize budget deficit, increase private sector participation in public transport, improve health care system. He became Chief Minister at the age of 41. He was the second youngest Chief Minister and he is the only Chief Minister of Puducherry, who has served the full five-year term till date.

Early life

He was born in a wealthy agricultural family, at Cuddalore, and was raised up in his native place Madukarai, Puducherry. After completing his schooling, he went to Loyola College in Chennai and later went to Madukkarai to take care of his family farms. In 1969, Vaithilingam got married to Miss Sasikala, the daughter of Dr.Sambasivam who rendered yeoman services to Puducherry in the position of Director of Medical services, later on. From his very early age, he developed exceptional leadership skills, an example of which was his role as the Chairman of Land Development Bank of Puducherry State.

Political career

In 1980, at the age of 30 ran for the Legislative Assembly and lost with a narrow margin of 90 odd votes. In 1985, Vaithilingam won to become Public Works and Power Minister. He became a leading figure among the Congress Party members. He advocated smaller government and greater participation of private sector. Vaithilingam projected an image as highly sympathetic to the concerns of ordinary people. This ensured his return and advance in power to become the Chief Minister in 1991. In addition to his political skills, Vaithilingam also benefited from a very skillful management of the economy and the liberalization policies followed by Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha Rao. He advocated increased private sector participation in public road transport.

Comeback

Vaithilingam was charged with an attempt to corrupt a fellow legislature.^[1] Although he was acquitted on all charges, Vaithilingam lost his leadership of the Congress Legislative party in 2000. Despite occasional political troubles, Vaithilingam has maintained his popularity with masses of Puducherry. He was for the sixth time elected to the legislature and served as Industries and Power Minister. Like his father he is gentle in nature, quite unruffled even in the face of high political turmoil. He was elected to lead the Congress Legislative Party on 28 August 2008 and was sworn in as Chief Minister, replacing N. Rangaswamy, on 4 September.^[2]

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