‘Fear of defeat forced AINRC to delay polls’

Union Minister for PMO V Narayanasamy said the fear of defeat has made the ruling All India NR Congress led by N Rangasamy to make efforts to delay the civic body polls.

Narayanasamy said ministers of the State Cabinet have told Rangasamy that his party would lose polls if held immediately and urged him to delay them. Following this, a former councillor, who is now an AINRC party member, has moved the Madras High Court to stay the elections, he added.

Narayanasamy said steps were taken for delimitation of wards for equal distribution of voters by the government well in advance.

He stated that the delimitation of wards is based on the 2001 census instead of 2011 census.It may be recalled that the petitioner has objected to this.

The Union Minister said all parties should respect the High Court order that elections should be held before January 15 next year. 

Alleging that the Chief Secretary M Sathiyavathy, Chief Minister N Rangasamy and the head of the Kadirgamam Government Medical College were responsible for back-door appointment of employees, Narayanasamy said he requested the Lieutenant Governor to conduct a probe into it.

The senior Congress leader said he has sanctioned Rs 50 lakh from his MPLAD fund for the construction of bio-toilets at five places in Puducherry at a cost of Rs 10 lakh each.