CLP meet likely to put end to crisis in Pondy Cong

Puducherry, Aug 13 (UNI) The prevailing administrative crisis in the union territory following the 'tussle' between Chief Minister N Rangasamy and the five Ministers here is likely to come to an end with the AICC directing the Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee to convene the Congress Legislature Party Meeting on Monday next.

Confirming this to UNI, PCC President A V Subramanian said the AICC had directed the convening of the CLP meeting which would be held at 1500 hrs on Monday.

The CLP would decide the support enjoyed by the Chief Minister among party MLAs. Mr Rangasamy may find it dificult to prove his majority, he claimed.

While, the five Ministers, Mr Namasivayam(Cong), three independents and Mr Thyagarajan, a Congress nominated member, are in one camp, Mr Angalan (Cong) alone is supporting Mr Rangasamy.

Mr Radhakrishnan(Speaker) and Mr A V Sreedharan (Deputy speaker) are likely to remain neutral. In such a circumstance, the survival of Mr Rangasamy as the Chief Minister was doubtful.

Alleging authoritarian attitude of the Chief Minister, the five Ministers raised a banner of revolt and demanded his removal.

They approached the AICC with this demand. The situation turned worse when they began boycotting Cabinet meetings resulting in neglect of developmental schemes in the union territory.

Following is the party position in the 33-member (including three nominated members) Territorial Assembly.

Cong-11 (including one nominated member), DMK-7, PMK-3 (including one nominated member), CPI-2 (including one nominated member), AIADMK-3, PMC-3 and the MDMK-1. Independents-3.

UNI PAB GM RP BD1756