PUDUCHERRY: The Congress party that clinched power in the small union territory of Puducherry, have announced V Narayanasamy as the next chief minister triggering massive protest against the decision. Party leaders including former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit and general secretary of the All India Congress Committee Mukul Wasnik announced their contestant nine days after the results of the assembly elections were announced.
Narayanasamy is not a popular choice as he faces heat over his “inept handling” of the internal crisis in Arunachal Pradesh that lead to the demise of the Congress rule in the state. A group of the leaders in the party claimed the situation in AP was allowed to go out of hand by Samy who did not allow rebels to meet either party chief Sonia Gandhi or vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
Protests took a turn for the worst with almost 10 buses attacked after the announcement and windscreens of at least eight buses running between Puducherry and Chennai broken down. The protesters also shouted slogans against Narayanasamy outside the hotel where the Congress Legislature Party meeting was held. There were three contenders for the chief minister's post - former chief minister V Vaithilingam, party chief A Namassivayam and Narayanasamy, which is why there was a delay in choosing the next Chief Minister.
Narayanansamy did not contest the elections. Now, he has to get elected after one of the sitting legislators resigns.
