PUDUCHERRY: At a time when former chief minister N Rangasamy has almost taken the plunge to leave the Congress by seeking an appointment with the Speaker of the territorial assembly R Radhakrishnan, understandably to tender his resignation as MLA, a last ditch attempt has been made by the party leadership to retain him.
As if taking a cue from Andhra Pradesh, the party leadership has sent an emissary in M Krishnasamy, former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president and Lok Sabha member, to convince Rangasamy to not leave the party. Sources said he made an offer that could fulfil Rangasamy’s ambition of becoming CM after the Assembly election.
As the Congress never decides on the chief ministerial candidate before the election results, the party could not make a commitment as desired by Rangasamy. However, an offer has been made allowing Rangasamy to select candidates for at least five to six constituencies in the Assembly elections. If these candidates win the seats, Rangasamy would get their support when MLAs elect the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader. The CLP leader will become the chief minister designate.
On the whole, Rangasamy would get to recommend his candidates in three constituencies in addition to his strongholds of Kadirkamam, Thattanchavady and Indira Nagar constituencies. Also, he was given to understand that certain MLAs and ministers with good chances of retaining their seat would support him for the CLP.
At present, Rangasamy is weighing pros and cons of the proposal and would take his own time before coming up with a final decision. The question before him is whether he would be better placed in the Congress to become chief minister or whether he would have bigger chances by floating his own party.
Several leaders, including some Congress MLAs who have not come out openly so far, are pinning their hopes on Rangasamy. Government whip and former minister P Angalan made his line clear, while speaking to reporters in the Assembly complex on Wednesday. “If Rangasamy quits, I will also quit and join him,” Angalan said. Similarly, former minister P Rajavelu has extended support to Rangasamy. Aspirants of ministerial berth from both the Congress and other parties are also urging Rangasamy to start a new party.
Meanwhile, local leaders are in a tizzy following the unexpected visit of Krishnasamy to Rangasamy’s house at Thilaspet. Even Puducherry Pradesh Congress president A V Subramanian, who was in Rangasamy’s residence at that time, was surprised to see the visitor.
What gains significance is that the party leadership has sidestepped the Pradesh Congress Committee and other prominent leaders in its attempt to stop Rangasamy. The 20-minute meeting between Rangasamy and Krishnasamy was held in one-to-one mode without the presence of anyone else. It indicates that as Rangasamy’s basic grievances are against the local leaders, the party has decided to keep the latter out of the affairs. It has also chosen the emissary carefully, opting for a person from the same caste (Vanniyar) as that of Rangasamy.
Meanwhile, Pradesh Congress president Subramanian claimed he had attempted to meet Rangasamy a month ago, but Rangasamy did not respond at that time. “When I came to know that Rangasamy was about to resign, I rushed to his house and was persuading him when Krishnasamy came in,” Subramanian told Express.
Though this division in the party is apparent with Union Minister of State for Planning V Narayanasamy and CM V Vaithilingam on one side and Rangasamy on the other, the party leadership has made it clear that they do not want Rangasamy to weaken the party.
How Rangasamy reacts to the offer would be known in the next few days.