Shanmugham to head Pondy Govt. again

By S. Nadarajan

PONDICHERRY, MAY 19. Mr. P. Shanmugham, Chief Minister of Pondicherry, was elected again the Congress Legislature Party leader to head the new Government of the Congress-TMC combine with the outside support of the AIADMK.

Mr. Shanmugham, not an elected member, has been approved by the AICC president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi.

Addressing a press conference at the end of a meeting with the legislators of the Congress, TMC and AIADMK here today, the AICC general secretary, Mr. Ghulam Nabi Azad, said he had telephonic talks with the AICC leader who conveyed the decision.

Mr. Azad said that earlier at the Congress legislators' meeting, attended also by the two TMC legislators, Mr. Theni C. Jayakumar and Mr. Namasivayam and the AIADMK member, Mr. D. Ramachandran, the name of Mr. Shanmugham was unanimously decided.Mr. Motilal Vora, the other AICC delegate, who accompanied Mr. Azad and Mr. V. Narayanaswamy, the PCC president, Mr. M. O. H. Farook, MP and the TMC president, Mr. V. Balaji, were also present at the meeting.Later, Mr. Shanmugham presented a letter, along with the TMC and AIADMK leaders' letters extending support, to the Lt. Governor, Dr. Rajani Rai, staking claim to form Government.

The two AICC delegates held discussions with all the 11 legislators on Friday. The legislators adopted a unanimous resolution, authorising Ms. Sonia Gandhi to take decision on the CLP leader.

The delegates subsequently held meetings with the TMC leader, Mr. G. K. Moopanar, in Chennai.

Asked about Mr. Shanmugham's statement that he was not in the race and wanted to give way to the youth, Mr. Azad said ``we feel that he (Shanmugham) is still young''. The list of Ministers would be finalised shortly.

Mr. Azad expressed gratitude to the TMC and the AIADMK for their cooperation and support.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Enron serves termination notice
Next     : Gold prices zoom