The political scene here seems to be hotting up with Union Minister of State for PMO V Narayanasamy likely to return to State politics by opting out of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, his eyes fixed on the Chief Minister’s throne. This came to the fore at the Pradesh Congress Committee‘s closed door meeting chaired by AICC secretary Dr Chinna Reddy on Friday.
Narayanasamy had expressed his desire to skip contesting the forthcoming Parliamentary elections and work for the party in the Union Territory.
“I have done quite a bit at the national level and also achieved a lot and hence want to retire and lead a simple life. But will continue to work for the party,” Narayanasamy reportedly said in his address.
In fact, for some time Narayanasamy has been casually expressing his lack of interest in contesting the Lok Sabha polls which he even told this reporter.
Whether this has been triggered by the talk about AICC contemplating fielding Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram, whose equations with Chief Minister N Rangasamy being good, remains submerged in political secrecy.
For Narayanasamy who has been deeply involved in the State politics and being at the helm of all political affairs in Puducherry, retirement from national politics and being just a partyman is incomprehensible.
It indicates a more active role in State politics and to fulfil his unrealised dream of becoming the Chief Minister of the Union Territory which he had missed in 2001.
Coming to active Sate politics at this juncture will also give him enough time to prepare for the next Assembly elections for not only winning an Assembly seat but also ensuring victory for the party and bring it to power. This is also reflected in the former minister M Kandasamy’s views expressed in the meeting.
“Winning the Lok Sabha election may be difficult for Narayanasamy as he may not get good support from the entire Union Territory of 8.5 lakh voters and, therefore, he should concentrate on a constituency from where he can contest and win the Assembly election,” said Kandasamy while vouching that Narayanasamy should play a very active role in State politics to bring the party to power once again.
Kandasamy also suggested that the party field Leader of Opposition V Vaithilingam for the Lok Sabha polls as he may not be the right and acceptable candidate for leading the next Assembly elections.
But interestingly, Vaithilingam and Rajya Sabha member P Kannan chose not to speak while giving opportunities to others to express their views on winning the Lok Sabha seat.