V Narayanaswamy to be new chief minister of Puducherry

Puducherry: After a week of indecision, the Congress party on Saturday formally elected senior leader V Narayanaswamy to be the new chief minister of Puducherry.

A decision in this regard was taken during Congress legislature party meeting held here this afternoon.

The state party leaders had earlier visited Delhi to consult party high command on the choice of Chief Minister.

Senior Congress leader and former Delhi chief minister Shiela Dikshit and party general secretary Mukul Wasnik attended the meeting as AICC observers.

Opposition parties had alleged that infighting in the Congress party has delayed formation of government.

Former chief minister V Vaithialingam too denied any rift in the party on the issue of Chief Minister.

He justified the delay saying that Congress being a national party, it has to consult central leadership before reaching at a decision.