Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Friday called on Lieutenant Governor Iqbal Singh at the Raj Nivas here.
Later, speaking to a select group of reporters in his chamber, Mr. Rangasamy said the purpose of meeting Mr. Singh was to discuss “certain administrative decisions” to be taken by the government. He said the meeting was an “usual” one. On his visit to New Delhi, Mr. Rangasamy said the meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi was “very satisfactory” and issues relating to the “development of the Union Territory” were discussed.
On media reports about the possibility of a coalition government in alliance with the Congress, he said, “A government was already in place in the Union Territory.”
Mr. Rangasamy met Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram to request for a one-time waiver of outstanding loans amounting to about Rs 4,040 crore. He said that by waiving the loan, the government would be relieved of paying an interest of over Rs. 400 crore and the financial burden would come down.
He said that he requested Union Food Minister K.V. Thomas to increase allotment of rice to the Union Territory and to permit at the earliest selling sugar stocked in various mills to facilitate payments to farmers.
Mr. Rangasamy said he also called on Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay to discuss the idea of establishing tourist centres in places such as Thirunallar.
On convening the Territorial Assembly, Mr. Rangasamy said that a decision to this effect would be taken soon.
