The run-up to the Presidential elections are seeing permutations and combinations in not just voting arithmetic, but in political equations as well. Old political foes Union Minister of State for PMO V Narayanasamy and Puducherry Chief Minister and All India NR Congress (AINRC) boss N Rangasamy seem to have buried the hatchet after a decade of hostility; at least for the time being. Speculations of a merger of the AINRC and its parent party, the Congress, are in the air, with much public camaraderie visible between Rangasamy and senior AICC functionaries. The rivalry between the chief minister and Congress leaders had culminated in the birth of Rangasamy’s AINRC. Even Rajya Sabha MP and senior Congress leader from Puducherry, P Kannan, feels that the two parties are coming closer. “There are possibilities of political changes,” he said.
While people close to Narayanasamy attribute the change in attitude to be on account of the Presidential elections—Rangasamy has offered to support UPA Presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee—the AINRC camp maintains that Rangasamy was only being courteous to Narayanasamy and nothing more. But, political circles are wondering how the two leaders who have been bitter enemies until now are greeting each other warmly. The good vibes are reflected in attitude and body language at various public functions.
“Rangasamy is friendly with us. The Congress leadership is reciprocating it. AICC President Sonia Gandhi gave Rangasamy time immediately when he wanted to call on her recently. AICC General Secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad (in charge of Puducherry) also gave Rangasamy a warm hug during the Prime Minister’s visit to Puducherry,” said a Congress source.
When asked whether this hug will culminate in an embrace, he said that the indications were there, but added that it was for Rangasamy and Congress leadership to decide. Rangasamy has been showing his respect to Sonia Gandhi by keeping her photograph displayed prominently in his office. He has also been broadly following Congress policies, which made the AIADMK and CPI accuse him of leading a de facto Congress government.
Congress sources say that with Lok Sabha elections due in 2014 or even earlier, Narayanasamy is perhaps looking at securing the support of AINRC. On the other hand, Rangasamy badly needs the blessings of the Congress and the support of Union Government to run his government. Puducherry being a Union Territory comes under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Says Kannan, “Though Rangasamy broke away from Congress to float his own party, deep inside he is a Congressman (like him, who had earlier broken away to float TMC, Puducherry Makkal Congress and Puducherry Munnetra Congress and returned to Congress). Rangaswamy’s DNA is Congress, wherever he is.”
Whether this change in attitude will culminate in the merger only time will tell. There are several issues on which the two parties would have to cross the bridge, most importantly retaining Rangasamy as the chief minister of a Congress government after a merger. But the Congress will have to step on the gas to work out the equation if it wants Rangasamy back. He has a talent for a wait and watch policy which keeps the Congress guessing.