Date:17/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/17/stories/2008081758520500.htm

Other States - Puducherry

Puducherry CLP meeting postponed

Special Correspondent

As per revised schedule, the meeting will take place on August 25

PUDUCHERRY: The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting here has been postponed to August 25, according to Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president A.V. Subramanian.

Mr. Subramanian told The Hindu here on Saturday that the meeting scheduled to be held at 3 p.m. on Monday had been postponed as per the directions of the All India Congress Committee (AICC).

As per the revised schedule, the meeting would take place at a hotel in Kalapet on the outskirts of Puducherry on August 25 at noon, he said.

The announcement has come close on the heels of Chief Minister N. Rangasamy calling on Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi. According to party sources, he has apprised Ms. Gandhi of the political developments in the Union Territory during the 25-minute meeting.

The discussions in New Delhi assumed significance as they were held against the backdrop of the Cabinet colleagues of Mr. Rangasamy pleading for his ouster as Chief Minister. Invitations had been extended to all 10 elected MLAs and the lone nominated member of the Congress, Mr. Subramanian said, adding that three Independent MLAs had also been invited to attend the meeting.

He justified the decision to invite the Independents to the meeting on the ground that they had made written submissions in 2006 to support the Congress government led by Mr. Rangasamy.

As per the AICC’s advice, invitations were sent to them for the last CLP meeting also, he said.