Pondicherry, May 11 (IANS): The number of BJP lawmakers in the Pondicherry Assembly rose to nine after the Union Interior Ministry appointed 3 party leaders as House lawmakers.

The BJP had six legislators elected while an independent MP had already extended his support for the Saffron party. With the latest addition, the BJP now has a total membership of 10 in the Legislature, which is equivalent to that of its ally AINRC.

It should be noted that the BJP did not assign any of its three appointed positions to its ally AINRC.

The appointed MPs are K. Venkatesan, a former DMK MP who resigned and joined the BJP; VP Ramalingam, brother of former President VP Sivakozhunthu, who joined the BJP on the eve of the Assembly elections; and lawyer RB Ashok Babu, chairman of the party’s municipal unit and a practicing lawyer.

The strength of the NDA has now increased to 20 in the 33-member House with the DMK having six MPs, Congress two in addition to five independents.

It is possible that the five independent deputies will join the saffron camp, which will make it easier for the BJP to negotiate the post of chief minister with the leader of the AINRC, N. Rangasamy.

Mahé-based journalist and social worker K. Asokan told IANS: “It is possible that the BJP will poach the remaining five independent MPs and increase its speaking force. This means the BJP is ahead of its time. AINRC partner, but it will be suicidal for the party.If he tries to oust Rangasamy from the CM post as in this case, he could go with the DMK and Congress to save his government.