PUDUCHERRY: A new entrant is all set to surface on Puducherry’s political scene. After much deliberation and egged on by his supporters, former chief minister N Rangasamy has made up his mind. The reticent politician is expected to float a new party probably sometime later this week, sources close to him said.
First, he would resign as MLA before announcing a new party. Its has already been decided and arrangements made for its registration. An announcement will be made followed by a public meeting addressed by Rangasamy.
Only then would a clear picture emerge. His supporters expect that the announcement would take place on January 20, the auspicious day of ‘Thai Poosam’.
Ever since he was made to quit as chief minister in 2008, Rangasamy has been looking at ways to get back his seat. He distanced himself from the party and the government, with differences cropping up between him and the local leaders. When he did make an occasional show when leaders like Congress president Sonia Gandhi visited Puducherry or when the Congress party appointed him as an AICC member, it had appeared that some understanding had been reached, but actually nothing got settled.
Rangasamy felt that he was not given due respect by the party and as if to underline his standing as a political leader of repute, his supporters organised a show of strength meeting at NT Mahal. He expected the Congress leadership to take a note of that and call him for a discussion. Nothing happened except that local leaders were directed to talk to him and iron out the ill feelings.
Accordingly, PCC president A V Subramanian spoke to Rangasamy. Later, chief minister V Vaithilingam during his address in the party meeting said that anyone could become chief minister if the party came to power, while adding that such decisions would be taken by the party high command after elections.
With the party unlikely to commit on the issue of the chief ministerial candidate before the elections, Rangasamy had no assurance from the party to make him the chief minister once again. Further, he was not called by the party high command for which he kept on waiting.
Now, he wants to earn back the ‘respect’ by a good show in the Assembly elections in the UT and return as chief minister. This is his main agenda.
Already the AIADMK and the CPI have given him an open invitation to join hands with them in case he broke away from the Congress. Rangasamy has hold on the three Assembly segments of Thattanchavady, Indira Nagar and Kadirkamam, besides which there are other leaders like former minister P Rajavelu and new aspirants who have been nurturing several constituencies.
If Rangasamy takes the plunge, he may open up a new political front with the support of these political parties, in opposition to the Congress.
The new profile of constituencies also could be an advantage. However, the question arises whether Rangasamy would be able to fulfil his as well as his supporters’ aspirations of getting back to power. Going by the present scenario, it may not pose a serious challenge to the Congress if it remains allied with DMK.
Both the parties have a strong political base in Puducherry and the others are nowhere near them. Except for lowering the margin of victory in some constituencies, the impact may not be as great as projected by the supporters of Rangasamy. Whether the new party would be able to do better than what appears on paper now, only time will tell.