PUDUCHERRY: Finally, the curtain fell on the Rangasamy-Congress drama that had kept everybody in a perpetual state of suspense, besides creating anxious moments for everybody concerned. Just ahead of the coming Assembly elections in April-May, Rangasamy has chosen to exit from the Congress. Rangasamy who had been chief minister for seven consecutive years and minister for another seven years earlier, resigned as MLA and AICC member. While he handed over his resignation to the secretary of the territorial assembly , M Sivaprakasam, he sent his resignation as AICC member to Puducherry Pradesh Congress president A V Subramanian. Shortly after, government whip P Angalan, a supporter of Rangasamy, also followed suit by resigning as MLA, consequent to which he loses his government whip post. Earlier, he had also tendered his resignation as chairman of the Pondicherry Housing Board.
Rangasamy who had distanced himself from the party after being dethroned in 2008 had been nurturing ambition of returning to power. His resignation from the party is seen as a consequence of this desire. The party had remained noncommittal on the subject, stating that the matter (of chief ministership) would be decided after the elections. Following this and egged on by his supporters, he took a different path to get to the seat of power. He is likely to float a new party in the next few days. However, Rangasamy attributed his resignation to lack of development works in his constituency (Thattanchavady). The name of the new party would be announced soon, he told newsmen after tendering his resignation. Already, a board with the name All India NR Congress with his photo has been put up near his house. Angalan also toed a similar line and said that his constituency Thirubuvanai (SC) had also been neglected.
At the moment, there is no threat to the government though the strength of the Congress is reduced to 11 in the 30-member Assembly, as long as they enjoy the support of the DMK which has seven MLAs. The AIADMK has three members, PMK two while the CPI and MDMK has one each and there are three independents.
However, Rangasamy’s resignation is likely to trigger more resignations from MLAs, municipal and commune panchayat councillors from not only Congress, but other political parties as well.
Meanwhile, AIADMK and CPI have extended their good wishes to Rangasamy. While AIADMK MLAs A Anbazhagan and Om Sakthi Segar have felicitated Rangasamy with a shawl at the Sithanandha Samy Koil, where Rangasamy went for his prayers after resigning as MLA, Salim, treasurer of local unit of the CPI, and Ramamurthy, deputy secretary of the party, at a meeting in the party office wished Rangasamy a bright future and mooted the idea of a new political front opposed to the Congress.