Sonia to choose UT CLP leader

PUDUCHERRY: Puducherry politics seems to be in the grip of indecision. While earlier Rangasamy was vacillating with regard to cabinet formation, now it’s the turn of the Congress: choosing the CLP leader. It is left to party high command Sonia Gandhi to decide.AICC secretary in charge of political affairs of Puducherry A B Krishnamurthy, who conducted the CLP meeting holding one-to-one interaction with each of the seven MLAs and the PCC president A V Subramanian at a hotel on Saturday. He later told mediapersons that the decision would be taken by Sonia Gandhi in a day or two. He himself would convey the views expressed by members and present an analysis of the political situation post elections to her in person in New Delhi.Krishnamurthy was tight-lipped when asked whether there had been a consensus on the views expressed by members with regard to the CLP leader, or whether there was more than one person in the running. The post assumes importance as the leader chosen would go on to become the leader of the opposition as well. The party would be a real and true opposition in a democracy,” said Krishnamurthy.“Regarding the election results, there is nothing shocking or surprising,” said Krishnamurthy and explained that in a democracy sometimes a party did well and sometimes not. “The elections results were normally taken with a pinch of sugar and sometimes with salt, but this time with a pinch of pepper too,” he added jocularly.Post elections now the party would assess the political situation by hold a meeting on Sunday with party office bearers, all frontal wings, block and district, Congress municipal councilors, members of Parliament, former chief ministers and ministers as well as defeated candidates. The breaking away of Chief Minister N Rangasamy from the party to float the All India NR Congress would also be discussed, he said in reply to a query.Former chief minister V Vaithilingam, former home minister E Valsaraj, former revenue minister Malladi Krishna Rao, former public health minister A Namassivayam, former education minister K Lakshminarayanan, former local administration minister C Jayakumar and first-time MLA PNR Thirumurugan participated in the CLP meeting.