Rangasamy resigns following directions from high command

Puducherry, Aug 28 (UNI) Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy today resigned from his post on the direction of the Congress high command, ending his second consecutive term in office midway.

Mr Rangasamy drove to Rajnivas at around 1245 hrs and tendered his resignation along with that of his council of ministers to Lt Governor Govind Singh Gurjar.

Mr Gurjar received the resignation letter and said that it would be sent to President Pratibha Patil for acceptance and asked Mr Rangasamy to continue as the caretaker Chief Minister till the Centre made an alternate arrangement.

Eight months ago, his cabinet colleagues had raised a banner of revolt against Mr Rangasamy, alleging ''authoritarian '' attitude on his part.

The ministers approached the AICC with a demand to remove him from the post. Even though AICC Coordinator and a three-member delegation led by Vayalar Ravi held talks with the ministers and the Chief Minister separately in New Delhi, no solution was found, following which a CLP meeting was convened here on August 25.

The central observers heard the views of the legislators, ministers and the Chief Minister and submitted their report to Congress President Sonia Gandhi on August 26.

Based on the report, Mr Rangasamy was asked to step down yesterday. Since he was reluctant to submit his resignation, the AICC had asked the PCC to convene another CLP meeting today to elect a new CLP leader and ''remove'' Mr Rangasamy. Following the development, the Chief Minister tendered his papers.

Mr Rangasamy had been sworn in as Chief Minister for the second consecutibve time in May 2006.

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