PUDUCHERRY: Five days have passed since Puducherry voted in favour of the Congress, but suspense still continues in the union territory on government formation, especially on who would be the next Chief Minister.
Puducherry Congress chief A. Namasivayam, who is the frontrunner for the top job, on Tuesday, met Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi and discussed about government formation, but no decision was arrived at.
With former Union minister V. Narayanasamy also throwing his hat in the ring, the contest for CM post is heating up. Besides Namasivayam and Narayanasamy, former Chief Minister V. Vaithilingam is also lobbying for the post.
After meeting Rahul Gandhi, the PCC chief said a meeting of the Congress legislature party would take place in the next couple of days during which the new leader would be elected.
"I discussed the entire political situation with the Congress vice president. I also discussed with him the government formation. The meeting of CLP will take place very soon," he told reporters.
He also said since Congress was a democratic party, anyone can stake claim to the post but eventually the decision will be taken by the high command. Though Narayanasamy evinced interest to lead the union territory, sources said.
the Congress high command is understood to have told the party unit that only a member of the legislature party will be elected as its leader.
This eventually means the competition is between Namasivayam and Vaithilingam. In the May 16 elections, Congress won 15 seats on its own. Along with its ally DMK, the strength of the Congress combine is 17 in the 30-member Assembly.
Sources said Namasivayam has an edge in the race since he is one of the vociferous opponents of N.Rangasamy of NR Congress and has steered the party to victory after a gap of five years.
