Leader of Opposition V Vaithilingam on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of a merger between ruling AINRC and the Congress party. “We are not desirous of merger of AINRC with us. People will reject Congress if AINRC merges with us,” he told mediapersons after garlanding the statue of Mahatma Gandhi on Beach Road. The anti-incumbency factor of the AINRC-led government will weigh on us, which will be politically disadvantageous, Vaithilingam added.
Minister of State for PMO V Narayansamy who was also present on the occasion concurred with Vaithilingam adding that the government led by Chief Minister N Rangasamy was becoming unpopular due to its “inefficiency” in running the administration. “The chief minister has begun earning the wrath of people,” he said. “He is functioning in an autocratic way and his ministers are unable to take any administrative decisions. How long can an inefficient government continue in power,” asked Narayanasamy.
Both Congress leaders blamed Rangasamy for the “anti-people” policies adopted by the government. Neither is any welfare scheme being implemented nor has the government bothered to take any steps to control escalating price of rice, Vaithilingam said.
Narayansamy also slammed the government for “ failing to project” the Karaikal farmers’ requirement in the Cauvery River Authority meeting in sharp contrast to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
The minister of state was also critical of the handling of finance by the Rangasamy government. He alleged that a compromise formula was being worked out to bring down the heavy dues from petrol bunks.
The AINRC too has not shown any inclination to merge with the Congress. The chief minister, however, keeps a photograph of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in his office and adheres to all the polices of the Congress and the UPA government. Though Congress allies including the DMK have opposed the recent decisions like FDI in retail, diesel price hike and regulation on subsidised LPG cylinders, Rangasamy has so far maintained silence on the issues.
The Puducherry unit of Congress has, however, started gearing up to gain ground lost in the last assembly elections. “We have strengthened the Youth Congress with a new energetic team. It is a fighting brigade and will take up people’s issues,” said Vaithilingam. The aim is to win and come to power with full majority in the next Assembly elections, he added.
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