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Shanmugham vows to make Pondicherry a model State

Special Correspondent

Chief Minister, cabinet colleagues greet new PCC president PCC chief says that he would strive hard for the coordination between the party and the government

PAYING TRIBUTES: The new PCC chief, P. Shanmugham paying tributes to Indira Gandhi, in Pondicherry on Thursday. — Photo : T. Singaravelou

PONDICHERRY: Former Chief Minister and senior Congress leader, P. Shanmugham, took charge on Thursday as president of the Pondicherry Pradesh Congress Committee following his appointment to the post by the all India Congress Committee on August 4. The 78-year-old Shanmugham replaces V. Narayanasamy, MP as president of the party.

After worshipping at the famous shrine of Sri Manakula Vinayakar a few meters away from his house and also after paying homage at the samadhis of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother in the precincts of the Aurobindo Ashram here Mr.Shanmugham drove to the Congress party office accompanied by the Chief Minister, N. Rangasamy, and his cabinet colleagues and also party legislators to take charge.

The Chief Minister, the Welfare Minister, M. Chandirakasu, the Local Administration Minister, A. Elumalai, the Agriculture Minister, A. Namassivayam, former Chief Minster V. Vaithilingam MLA, and party functionaries visited the party office to greet him.

Later addressing the rank and file Mr.Shanmugham said that he would strive hard for the coordination between the party and the government. He also vowed to make Pondicherry a model State and strengthen the party further as per the guidelines of the AICC leader Sonia Gandhi.

He sought the cooperation of every section of the party men to ensure that the party emerged a bigger organisation in the Union Territory.

Call for unity in party

Mr. Shanmugham addressing a press conference here said that he would leave no space for groupism in the party as the development of the State and also of the party should reign supreme in the minds of every one in the organisation.

It was because of unanimous wish of all sections of party functionaries and rank and file of the organisation here had he been made the president of the party. Mr.Shanmugham, who is also member of All India Congress Committee thanked the party president Sonia Gandhi and other functionaries of the high command for making him the president of the party here.

He appealed to rank and file in the party to eschew groupism.

The separate identity of Pondicherry has been maintained all along and with Pondicherry offering good scope for further development there was also need for closer coordination between the government and the party.

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