PUDUCHERRY: At a time when supporters of former chief minister N Rangasamy are pressuring him to quit the Congress and float a new party, incumbent V Vaithilingam has stated that due respect was given to his predecessor.
Talking to reporters here on Tuesday, Vaithilingam said nothing could be done with those trying to play an intermediary role between Rangasamy and the party. “Rangasamy is a veteran politician. He was recently made an All India Congress Committee (AICC) member,” he said. Vaithilingam added that he himself did not get that post, though he was the chief minister.
“This shows the amount of respect that AICC and Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee and the government have for the former chief minister,” Vaithilingam went on.
Asked about how Rangasamy was criticised by some of his Cabinet ministers at public functions, the chief minister did not comment.