More trouble brews for Union Minister of State for PMO V Narayanasamy with another set of Congressmen under former MLA S Rathinam alias Manohar quit the party on Tuesday protesting the ‘undemocratic and arbitrary style’ of functioning of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) in the selection of candidate and appointment of election committees.
This is the second revolt from within the party after nearly 50 functionaries loyal to the Rajya Sabha member P Kannan had resigned from all responsibilities and primary memberships on March 14, to protest Narayanasamy’s candidature.
Manohar, who was the TMC MLA from 1996 to 2001, told the reporters here that five Congress functionaries had also quit the party along with him.
It is said that the main disappointment lies in the selection of Narayanasamy as well as the party not appointing Manohar as the election in-charge of Uppalam Assembly segment, which he represents.
Manohar alleged that the PCC is not following any democratic procedures. “While selecting a candidate, the party used to collect applications from aspirants. But this time the PCC did not call for applications and a few members of the PCC decided to field Narayanasamy as the candidate. After taking their signatures in support of Narayanasamy, it was sent to the AICC,” he said.
Further Manohar also claimed that there were others in the party who were aggrieved for giving importance to only those who were ‘rich’, while ignoring long-time workers of the party.
Incidentally, the Rajya Sabha member Kannan, the estranged leader, who is keeping himself aloof from all the electoral activities of the party, is yet to announce his decision.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Rangasamy ruled out the possibility of a debate with Narayanasamy over the use of Central government funds by the Union Territory.
“There is no such extent of achievement by Narayanasamy that benefited Puducherry for debating with him on the same platform,” said the AINRC founder. He was responding to the challenge thrown by Narayanasamy on Sunday.
Addressing an election meeting at Ariyankuppam, Rangasamy claimed that the introduction of trains and establishment of the National Institute of Technology (NIT) were the result of his pursuance with the Central government.
“I had written several letters to the Central government following which the benefits resulted,” he said.
He blamed Narayanasamy for his failure to bring major industries to Puducherry which would have resulted in providing employment to thousands of youth.
He appealed to the people to vote for a change in Puducherry Lok Sabha member like the way they had done in Assembly elections by voting for his party.