Puducherry CM leaves for Delhi to meet Sonia Gandhi

Chennai, Jun 22: Puducherry Chief Minister and founder leader of AINRC N Rangasamy today (Jun 22) left for his first official visit to Delhi after assuming office and will meet AICC leader Sonia Gandhi amid speculation that his party would seek Congress support.

"I will meet Sonia Gandhi and seek her blessings. I will also meet Home Minister P Chidambaram and other Central Ministers for approval of various schemes for Puducherry," Rangasamy told PTI.

AINRC had won 15 out of 17 seats in the 30 member Assembly in the April 13 polls. But the Union Territories Act provides for nomination for three more seats.

Rangasamy wanted to use the provision to artificially gain an absolute majority for his party, but the seven member Congress and five member AIADMK legislature parties opposed the move and thwarted it.

With no other option left, he started wooing Congress, from whom he parted company six months back. But Puducherry Congress is opposed to any tie up with the fledgling AINRC.

Though the Puducherry government has five ministers, including Rangasamy, none have yet been allocated portfolios.

PTI