Puducherry: Nellithope MLA A. John Kumar is likely to resign his post to make way for Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy to enter the Puducherry Assembly. Mr Narayanasamy, who did not contest the May 16 Assembly elections, became the Chief Minister after a “majority of the MLAs” expressed support for him.
“In all probability, the Chief Minister will contest from Nellithope in Puducherry. It is just a matter of time that it is declared officially,” a senior Congress leader told Deccan Chronicle.
Mr Kumar, a first time legislator from Nellithope constituency who is also the Parliamentary Secretary to the Chief Minister, is likely to submit his resignation letter next week to enable Mr Narayanasamy to contest. Once the Speaker accepts the resignation, the Election Commission would announce elections for the seat.
All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and former Union Minister for State V Narayanasamy is the second non-member of the Puducherry Assembly to become the Chief Minister of the Union Territory.
Earlier in 2000, Congress leader P Shanmugam became the Chief Minister of the Union Territory without contesting the election. Later he was successfully elected from Yanam enclave of Puducherry after the independent member Malladi Krishna Rao vacated his seat and continued in the post till October 2011.
Though Mr Shanmugam was re-nominated for the post of Chief Minister after congress won in the assembly election in 2001, none of the congress members came forward to vacate the seat, which led to Shanmugam’s resignation.
It was a foregone conclusion that Mr Narayanasamy will not face the same fate given his proximity to the Gandhis. Sources said Mr Kumar is a close associate of Mr Narayanasamy and that is the reason why he has readily agreed to step down.
“Though John Kumar was in politics for quite a long time as DMK leader, Narayanasamy can be considered as his mentor in Congress politics. Mr Narayanasamy played a major role in getting ticket for John Kumar,” said a Congress leader.
