The Congress High Command has nominated former Chief Minister N. Rangasamy to the All India Congress Committee.
His re-induction into the AICC has political significance as the move comes after having served show-cause notice on him for not working in favour of Union Minister of State for Planning, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture, V. Narayanasamy, during the Lok Sabha polls.
“It appears that the high command has dropped its plan to take disciplinary action,” said a senior Congress functionary here.
Reacting to the development, chief of Pradesh Congress Committee A.V. Subramanian said, “We will fight the Assembly elections united in the interest of party.”
Prior to Congress president Sonia Gandhi's visit to inaugurate the new Women and Child Hospital at Puducherry, there was enough speculation among local leaders on the future course of action of Mr. Rangasamy.
The party was keeping a close watch on his activities as he abstained from all party functions, including the visit of Rahul Gandhi, and skipped Assembly sessions after his removal from the Chief Minister's office on August 28, 2008.
Speculation grew when Mr. Rangasamy's supporters formed an association in his name and started working in select Assembly constituencies.
The tone of reconciliation was actually set on October 9 when Mr. Rangasamy attended Ms. Gandhi's programme, said a senior party functionary. “His induction assumes more significance this time. His earlier term in AICC was because of the office he held but now he is only a Member of the Legislative Assembly.”
The other members nominated to the AICC are Mr. Narayanasamy; Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam; Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) P. Kannan; Social Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy; Mr. Subramanian; party member from Yanam M A.K Jalani; and four other women, including Chairperson of the Women's Commission S. Kamalini.
