In top league: Puducherry Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy (centre) along with Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh and former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in New Delhi on Sunday. | Photo Credit: PTI more-in After adopting a resolution seeking Statehood in the Assembly last week, the government has shifted its fight for getting more powers to the national capital. A delegation of MLAs left to New Delhi on Sunday evening to press for Statehood for the Union Territory in their upcoming meetings with Union Minister for Home Affairs Rajnath Singh and national leaders of various political parties. The delegation included Speaker V. Vaithilingam, several Ministers and MLAs belonging to the Congress, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The lone Independent legislator representing Mahe is part of the team. Though the Chief Minister's Office had booked tickets for the evening Delhi flight from Chennai for the eight All India N.R. Congress members, it was not clear whether there would be any representative from that party in the delegation. AINRC stays out AINRC chief and former Chief Minister N. Rangasamy and at least three other MLAs have confirmed their decision not to join the delegation. “We have supported the resolution in the house but taking into account the prevailing political situation (the dispute between Centre and ruling Congress in admitting the three BJP leaders as MLAs) the party has decided not to join the delegation. Our party chief may make separate visit to Delhi for seeking Statehood,” an AINRC MLA told The Hindu. The AINRC is considered an ally of the Bharathiya Janata Party. However, there was speculation that some AINRC legislators might visit Delhi. It would be interesting to see whether Minister for Health Malladi Krishna Rao, who represents Yanam constituency, would form part of the delegation in its meetings with Home Minister and national leaders. Mr. Rao, due to fear of having to relinquish his constituency, had not spelt out his stand clearly on the demand for Statehood. Incidentally, R. Siva (DMK) had questioned the absence of Mr. Rao from the Assembly during the debate on the Statehood resolution moved by Chief Minister V. Narayanasamy. To meet PM? Mr. Narayanasamy, who has been camping in Delhi from Friday, told The Hindu over phone that he had sought an appointment with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister's Office was yet to respond to the appointment request. The delegation would try to garner support from as many Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha members. “We hope to be able to meet senior leaders as the Parliament is in session,” he said, The delegation would not limit its agenda to seeking support for Statehood in their meetings. “We will certainly ask the MPs to raise the undemocratic attitude of Lt Governor towards the elected government in the both houses of Parliament,” said a ruling party member.

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