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Congress groups take the fight to Delhi

PUDUCHERRY: The focus of the infighting in the Puducherry unit of the Congress appears to be shifting to New Delhi, with Cabinet colleagues of Chief Minister N. Rangasamy insisting that they also be allowed to take part in the proposed meeting with Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia on February 18, to decide the 2008-2009 plan size for the Union Territory.

The Ministers also want to have discussions with the Chief Minister, along with Rajya Sabha Member from the Union Territory V. Narayanasamy, on the eve of the meeting with Mr. Ahluwalia.

Social Welfare Minister and Mr. Rangasamy’s rival in the party M. Kandasamy confirmed the move, but denied that the Ministers had sought an appointment with Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Congress Working Committee member Arun Kumar, who was here on Monday to attend a meeting of the monitoring committee on implementation of the Congress manifesto for the 2006 Assembly elections in Puducherry, denied any rift in the Ministry.

He also dismissed the theory that he and All-India Congress Committee secretary K.B. Krishnamurthy were on a mission to iron out differences between Mr. Rangasamy and the Ministers.

The meeting, which lasted over four hours, not only enabled the two observers to assess the performance of the government but also spot grey areas.

Party sources said there were heated arguments over funds allocation for various schemes and administrative measures at the meeting of the 10-member committee held at a hotel on the outskirts of Puducherry.

The observers utilised the opportunity to issue a ‘thus-far-no-further’ signal to leaders publicly criticising the Chief Minister and the Ministers, the sources said.

The observers also condemned the burning of the effigies of Congress leaders, saying such acts brought “disrepute” to the party in its traditional stronghold.

Their effort assumes significance as the ruling party is in a delicate situation with not only the Opposition All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam but also alliance partners such as the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the Communist Party of India openly criticising the goings-on in the Congress, arguing that the “rift in the Ministry had come in the way of the implementation of schemes.”

The criticism of the allies cannot not be ignored since the government’s stability hinged on their support, a Congress source said.

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