Protest in Congress camp against re-nomination of Narayanasamy

Puducherry: Protesting against re-nomination of Union Minister V Narayanasamy for Lok Sabha poll from Puducherry, leaders of different wings of Congress on Friday threatened to resign from the party.

The leaders also held an emergency meeting. "About 50 functionaries of different wings of the party have decided to resign from all responsibilities and primary memberships to protest against the 'arbitrary and undemocratic manner' in which Narayanasamy's candidature was finalised," Puducherry PCC secretary C Vettriselvane said.

He said Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi was keen to ensure that considerable opportunities were made available for youth to contest the polls. But no applications were invited from those aspiring for the party ticket to fight the poll.

The next course of action by the party functionaries would be decided shortly, Vettriselvane said. He said Narayanasamy had repeatedly been given opportunity for Parliamentary polls since 1985. He had been a Rajya Sabha member for three terms and successfully contested for the first time for Lok Sabha seat in 2009.