Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy and his Ministers on Wednesday paid a courtesy call to President Ram Nath Kovind.
Mr. Narayanasamy, who is camping in New Delhi along with his ministerial colleagues since Tuesday, said the meeting with the President was just a courtesy call.
“He is the final authority when it comes to matters related to UT administration. We just briefed him about the administrative matters,” he told The Hindu over phone.
Meeting with Rahul
Mr. Narayanasamy and ministers met Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and apprised him of the political developments in UT.
The unilateral appointment of three leaders belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party as nominated members to the Legislative Assembly by the Centre figured prominently in the discussion. Minister for Public Works A. Namassivayam, who is chief of Pradesh Congress Committee, said Mr. Gandhi had agreed to raise the issue of the appointment of nominated members and the style of functioning of the Lieutenant Governor in both Houses of Parliament.
Mr. Gandhi had promised to discus the issue with Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad, he said.
Minister for Tourism Malladi Krishna Rao met Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju and invited him for the inauguration of flight operations from Puducherry airport on August 16.
He met Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and requested him to take an early decision on NEET admission. He briefed him about the controversies surrounding medical admission in UT.
Mr. Rao met Union Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh and sought an early release of arrears for fishermen saving the scheme. The Centre was yet to release its share for 2014-15, the Chief Minister said.
Social Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy briefed Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Thaawarchand Gehlot about various welfare measures undertaken by territorial administration. He sought additional funds for development schemes targeting Scheduled Castes.
The Chief Minister and Ministers would be returning to Puducherry on Thursday morning.
