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Crucial CLP meeting today

PUDUCHERRY: A solution to the problems facing the Congress party could finally emerge at the crucial Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting to be held here on Monday.

The meeting postponed twice in the past would take stock of the issues arising out of the differences of opinion between the Chief Minister and five Ministers, besides seeking the views of Congress MLAs and three other independents supporting the government from outside.

Sources in the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) told The Hindu that a team of observers led by Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Vayalar Ravi deputed by the Congress High Command would attend the CLP meeting and submit a report to Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Invitations have been sent to Independents — A. Elumalai, J. Narayanasamy, A. Marimuthu and one nominated MLA from Congress N. G Pannirselvam, they said.

The need to convene the CLP arose after the five Ministers raised several complaints about the Chief Minister N.Rangasamy with the Congress High Command. Things came to a stand when the five Ministers refused to attend the Cabinet meetings convened by the Chief Minister unless the issues raised by them were resolved.

Though the Ministers have made formal complaints about the Chief Minister they have not demanded the removal of Mr. Rangasamy from the post of Chief Minister.

In the territorial assembly, the Congress has got 10 members, including the Speaker.

However, the observers believe that the decision of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Pattali Makkal Katchi and Communist Party of India would be decisive to any decision taken by the Congress High Command.

The differences between the Chief Minister and Ministers came out in the open a year ago after Social Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy openly accused Mr. Rangasamy of favouring his constituency in the implementation of welfare schemes.

Mr. Kandasamy also complained of difficulty in implementing welfare schemes for the backward classes due to diversion of funds from the Special Component Plan. The other Ministers too started complaining about paucity of funds to implement development schemes.

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