Puducherry, Dec 28 (UNI) The 123rd formation day of the Congress party was celebrated with enthusiasm in the union territory today.

At a function organised at the PCC office here, Party President P Shanmugham, Chief Minister N Rangasamy and his cabinet colleagues, legislators and party functionaries participated and paid homage to party leaders and hoisted party flag and distributed sweets.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Shanmugham exhorted the party workers to strive hard to strengthen the party and not to be lured into slanting towards some whose only intention was power.

He said since the inception of the Congress party in the union territory in 1955, it remains the number one party here .

Party President Sonia Gandhi could not be blamed for the debacle of the party in the elections in Gujarat as it was because of groupism in the party unit, he added.

He also said in Tamil Nadu, Congress could not come back to power after Kamaraj because of groupism, which has weakened the party.

''It was painful to note that some people who have failed to do any work for its development were issuing statements to the press, this would be brought to the notice of the party president,'' he quipped.

Stating that discipline is must for the growth of the party, Mr Shanmugham said the allegations levelled against the Chief Minister that he was taking away a majority of the schemes to his constituency, were baseless.

''If others could provide 100 acres of land in their constituency, certainly projects would be implemented there also,'' he added.

UNI