The Congress is yet to decide its Legislature Party Leader in the Union Territory as a consensus could not be reached on the candidate for the top post.
Senior leaders are camping in Delhi for consultations with the high command. According to party sources, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president A. Namassivayam who is camping in Delhi held discussions with AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi on the need for an early decision on the CLP leader and subsequently Chief Minister of the UT.
“I have briefed the AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi about the prevailing political situation in the UT and to initiate the immediate task of finalising the CLP leader. Mr. Gandhi will hold separate discussions with the observers and has promised to take up the issue with AICC president Sonia Gandhi,” Mr. Namassivayam told The Hindu . The Congress leadership will announce the CLP leader in two days who will go on to become the Chief Minister. The candidate would be announced at a meeting of party Legislators and the new government is expected to be installed by next week, he said.
Political observers feel that a major struggle is expected to take place for the post of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader with aspirants for the top post lobbying in Delhi.
Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister for State V. Narayanasamy, PCC president A. Namassivayam and former Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam are the strong contenders for the post. Leaders are wary of rivals looking out for opportunities to cash in on any rift within the Puducherry Congress and try to precipitate the crisis.
Though choosing a nominee for the top post remains an internal matter of the Congress, the PMK has thrown its weight behind Mr. Namassivayam, who belongs to the dominant Vanniyar community. A few loyalists of the PCC president have hinted at a bandh in Villianur if their leader was not chosen for the top post.
