PONDICHERRY: Those who are used to the practice of either a national party or a State-level party garnering sufficient seats to form a government in Pondicherry are not surprised at the current sluggishness on the part of the Congress in putting in place a Ministry. Such delays in forming the government have been more of a rule than an exception, after the completion of the polling process in the Union Territory.

The recent polls held in two phases (May 3 and 8) had resulted in the Democratic Progressive Alliance (comprising the Congress, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the Communist Party of India) emerging with a cumulative strength of 20 in the 30-member Assembly. Of them, the Congress with ten members on its side is the single largest party and is all set to form a minority government on May 18.

Contrast to this, with the lightning speed with which the DMK was going ahead with the post-poll exercises including formation of a government in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

The PCC president along with observers of AICC Motilal Vora, B.K. Hariprasad and P. Sudhakar Reddy had on Saturday apprised Lt. Governor M.M. Lakhera of the unanimous election of N. Rangasamy as CLP leader and sought an invitation to him to form the government. The Congress delegation also handed over to the Lt. Governor letters of support received from leaders of the DMK, the PMK and the CPI informing him of their support from outside to the Congress. The procedural formalities involve the constitutional duty of the Lt. Governor to appraise the Union Home Ministry of the latest developments. As soon as he gets the nod, he will invite Mr. Rangasamy to form the government. The DMK-led coalition, which was elected with a majority in the 1996 polls, formed the government nearly three weeks after the final announcement of the results .

Procrastination

The vigour and zeal of the party men would slacken because of this procrastination in forming the government, feel a section of functionaries of the Congress.

With the Congress being sentimentally-oriented and remaining a stickler to auspicious day and time, it is not in a hurry to form a Ministry. The PCC cannot finalise list of names of other incumbents of the new government without a green signal from the AICC.

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