PUDUCHERRY: Austere celebrations marked the first anniversary of All India N R Congress (AINRC)government’s rule in the Union territory.At a function held in the party office on Wednesday, to mark the occasion, the celebrations were minimal. This was in sharp contrast to the celebrations that took place after the government came to power last year. Party president and chief minister N Rangasamy garlanded the portraits of leaders that included Mahatma Gandhi, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and Kamaraj besides his ‘Guru’ Appa Paithya Swami. Later, he hoisted party flag and distributed sweets.His cabinet colleagues, party legislators and party functionaries among others participated. However, the non-participation of some MLAs by absenting themselves from the event was well noticed. Among them were MLAs P Angalan, chairman of Pondicherry Industrial Promotion, Development and Investment corporation limited (PIPDIC), M Vaithianathan, parliamentary secretary to chief minister, and P Karthikeyan, chairman of Pondicherry Slum Clearance Board.Even MLA Ashok Anand, chairman of PASIC, after handing over an envelope to chief minister, left the venue. The CM himself handed over the envelope to speaker and left the venue. Some of the MLAs said that there was no proper intimation about the programme in party office. The absentees were unavailable for comment, but others cited some personal reasons. “I did not know earlier, so I had come to Chennai with my family,” said Vaithianathan.Even G Nehru alias Kuppusamy, government whip who came to the party office late, also cited lack of intimation for the late arrival. It is not known whether there is underlying reasons behind their absence, but the enthusiasm was missing.However, Rangasamy went about his own way and called on Lt Governor Iqbal Singh at the Rajnivas here, which was said to be a courtesy call as the Lt Governor returned to Puducherry after a fortnight. Singh presented the chief Minister a shawl and greeted him on completion of the first year in office. The chief minister who sat in his chamber briefly, before proceeding to Karaikal, expressed his happiness on the occasion. “The Government is functioning well and there are lots of things to do,” Rangasamy said.He preferred to remain silent when asked about his achievements during the past one year. “With cooperation of people and everyone I want to fulfil many things and provide a very good governance,” he said optimistically.However, the year has not been peaceful at all for the chief minister with severe criticism from the opposition after failing to fulfil most of the election assurances as well as the budgetary assurances. The problems with paucity of funds and administrative issues have been bogging down the government. Whether he would be able to overcome these issues as he steps into second year is the answer people need.
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