Thaindian News

Chennai, May 19 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Thursday said her AIADMK had been betrayed by poll ally and newly-elected Puducherry Chief Minister N. Rangaswamy, who heads the All India NR Congress (AINRC).

“Prior to the poll, Rangasamy said the Congress had betrayed him. And he has done the same thing to AIADMK,” Jayalalithaa said in a statement, adding that her party would now act as a constructive opposition in Puducherry.

She added that Rangasamy had not had the courtesy to even wish her on her poll victory though she had wished him on his.

The AIADMK is upset with Rangasamy’s statement that his party would form the government on its own and not with its poll ally.

The two-month-old AINRC fought elections for the 30-member house in alliance with the AIADMK. It contested 17 seats and shared the rest with alliance partners - AIADMK (10) and one each to the DMDK, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) and the Communist Party of India (CPI).

AINRC won 15 seats with Rangasamy winning the two constituencies he contested from. The AIADMK won five seats taking the alliance tally to 20.

The rival camp Congress and the DMK won seven and two seats, respectively, while one seat was won by an independent.

Jayalalithaa had campaigned in Puducherry in support of the coalition under Rangasamy.

According to Jayalalithaa, Rangasamy had not informed her when he met the Puducherry lieutenant governor to stake his claim to forming the government.

She said Rangasamy had violated the coalition dharma by forming the government with the support of an independent legislator who had contested and won against AIADMK candidate.

Officials of AINRC were not available for comments.