Pondy CM resigns

He said he had resigned on the advice of party leader and Tamil Nadu CM M Karunanidhi. Janakiraman said the DMK would function as an effective and responsible8217; Opposition and work for the welfare of the people of the Union Territory. For the first time, he said he was able to bring a power project to the UT.

The revenue had gone up from Rs 178 crore when he had assumed office in 1996 to Rs 340 crore now. He was optimistic that the DMK would bounce back to power in next year8217;s Assembly elections. The TMC, he said, had co-operated with the DMK till it shared power. He did not know why the TMC took the sudden decision to withdraw support to the coalition Government headed by him.

With the resignation of Janakiraman the race for Chief Ministership in Pondicherry has begun in the Congress. Former Minister N Rengaswamy and CLP leader V Vaithilingam are in the fray. What has lent significance to the race is the TMC8217;s decision to back a candidate with a clean image for the CM8217;s post. Vailthilingam faces charges in an MLA bribery case being investigated by CBI.

According to TMC sources party chief G K Moopanar had said that only a person with a clean record should head the Government. Congress High Command observer P J Kurien, who heard the views of party MLAs, told PTI he was hopeful of a consensus emerging by Saturday evening. The odds at present favour Rengaswamy, party sources said.

TMC sources said the Ministry would consist of six ministers. The CPI had decided against participation in the Ministry, they said adding AIADMK was also unlikely to participate.

TMC general secretary K S Alagiri, who looks after Pondicherry affairs, and Kurien would meet on Saturday afternoon to give finishing touches to the Ministry formation efforts.

Pondicherry PCC President P Shanmugham, while welcoming Janakiraman8217;s decision to quit, said, quot;The decision is belated. He should have done it on the day TMC withdrew its support. quot;It is a victory for secular forces,quot; he added.

Asked about who would head the new Ministry, Shanmugham said it would be decided on Saturday evening. The Congress would consult its ally the TMC, CPI and AIADMK on the issue, he added. quot;We are waiting for a call from Dr Rai,quot; he said.

Meanwhile, Tamizhaga Rajiv Congress TRC called for the dissolution of Pondicherry Territorial Assembly saying that no party should be allowed to form the Government with help from TMC, which had fought the 1996 elections with the DMK. Addressing reporters here, TRC President Vazhapadi K Ramamurthee claimed that TMC had lost its credibility and had no moral right to support the formation of an alternative Government after withdrawing its support to the DMK. The electorate had voted for the DMK-TMC combine, he said.

Welcoming Janakiraman8217;s decision to step down from office, he asked Dr Rai not to invite the Congress to form the Government based on numbers alone. Stating that even a new Government would not last long, he said it would be better to dissolve the Assembly.

Speaker resigns

Pondicherry Assembly Speaker V M C Sivakumar on Saturday announced that he was resigning from his post. In a statement here, Sivakumar said there was no justification in his continuing in office after the resignation of the DMK Ministry headed by R V Janakiraman.

Sivakumar said he did not want to be the Speaker when a non-DMK Government assumed office. He said he had taken the decision to resign on his own and would submit his papers to the Lt Governor late on Saturday.

The Janakiraman Government resigned earlier in the day after being reduced to a minority following withdrawal of support by TMC.