The Hindu : Front Page : Rangasamy has lost majority support in CLP, says Arun Kumar

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 28, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Front Page

Front Page

Rangasamy has lost majority support in CLP, says Arun Kumar

Tamil Nadu Bureau

“Legislature party to meet after his exit to elect new leader”

CHENNAI: Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has been formally informed by the Congress high command that he has lost majority support in the Congress Legislature Party, AICC general secretary Arun Kumar, who is in-charge of party affairs in Puducherry, said on Wednesday.

“Normally, a CLP leader who has lost majority will quit his post. If Mr. Rangasamy does not quit now he may do so on Thursday,” Mr. Kumar told The Hindu in New Delhi.

He denied that the party high command had asked Mr. Rangasamy to quit.

Mr. Arun Kumar said that the CLP would meet soon, after the exit of Mr. Rangasamy, to elect a new leader. If necessary, he and other observers from the high command would attend the meeting.

Mr. Rangasamy was, earlier in the day, closeted with close associates at his residence in Thattanchavady. He also held talks with Speaker R. Radhakrishnan and Congress MLA P. Angalane.

Sources close to Mr. Rangasamy said that he was not in a hurry to put in his papers. Sources in the Pradesh Congress Committee said the Congress Legislative Party could elect a new leader and communicate the decision directly to the Lieutenant Governor.

Security was beefed up in in Puducherry town and its suburbs following reports that Mr. Rangasamy would resign.

A large posse of policemen was posted on main arterial roads and the Chief Minister’s constituency, Thattanchavady, from noon to prevent untoward incidents.

A team of police personnel was also deployed at Raj Nivas in the wake of reports that Mr. Rangasamy may call on the Lieutenant Governor to submit his resignation.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Front Page