NR meeting with Sonia sparks rumour of tie-up

PUDUCHERRY: Chief minister N Rangasamy and founder-leader of the All India NR Congress (AINRC) called on AICC president Sonia Gandhi at her residence in New Delhi on Wednesday evening. It was a one-on-one meeting that lasted for about 10 minutes, party sources said.Meeting Sonia Gandhi, the leader of the party from which he broke away to float AINRC just two months before the elections, is seen as homecoming by some political observers. Though Rangasamy had called it a mere courtesy call and sought her blessings after his victory in the polls, it has given rise to speculation of a possible tie-up between the two parties.However, it is early days, as a lot of issues need to be ironed out before a final picture can emerge. As of now, there could be an understanding so that governance in the Union Territory could be strengthened with the Centre’s support. Rangasamy is also facing problems within his party, with dissatisfaction creeping in among several MLAs who had joined him in expectation of “something big”. The wafer-thin majority established with the support of an independent candidate is also vulnerable, as MLA V M C Sivakumar is showing signs of unpredictability. Under these circumstances,  Rangasamy has kept the Speaker’s election pending and a ministerial berth vacant. Ministers have also not been allotted portfolios.In Delhi, Rangasamy is likely to call on Home Minister P Chidambaram, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, other ministers and officials with regard to matters on governance, party sources said.