In a surprise development , P. Kannan, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (Congress), on Tuesday met Chief Minister N. Rangasamy.
The undisclosed meeting was held at a leading hotel here.
Informed sources said that Mr. Kannan, who was waiting at the hotel prior to the arrival of Mr. Rangasamy, received him and both of them went to a room, where they were closeted for more than an hour. They reportedly discussed the current political situation in the Union Territory and parliamentary elections.
Mr. Rangasamy sought his support for the All India N.R. Congress (AINRC) candidate, who has been fielded on behalf of the National Democratic Alliance in Puducherry against Union Minister V. Narayanasamy. Mr. Kannan reportedly told Mr. Rangasamy that he would have to consult his supporters before taking any decision.
When asked whether he met Mr. Kannan, Mr. Rangasamy told The Hindu over phone on Wednesday, “I will inform you in person shortly.”
When his attention was drawn to the insistence of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) to contest the Puducherry seat, Mr. Rangasamy said negotiations were on with the PMK.
He would soon meet former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss to seek the PMK’s support to the AINRC candidate.
Mr. Kannan, when contacted by The Hindu , also agreed that he had met Mr. Rangasamy, whom he described as his “good friend.”
While terming that it was a courtesy call, he further said that he couldn’t reveal anything at the moment.
The sudden meeting assumed significance in the background of dissent voices registered by Mr. Kannan’s supporters against the re-nomination of Mr. Narayanasamy by the Congress high command.
AINRC campaign soon Mr. Rangasamy on Wednesday called upon the voters in Puducherry to defeat Mr. Narayanasamy in the LS polls for blocking Central government fund and creating trouble to the elected government in Puducherry.
Inaugurating the All India N.R. Congress’s election office in Managalam constituency near Villianur, he said Mr. Narayanasamy had failed to live up to the expectations of people of Puducherry despite having lot of influence in the Central government.
Stating that he was waiting for an occasion to reveal the wrongdoings of Mr. Narayanasamy, Mr. Rangasamy said that he would list out everything one by one when he launches the formal election campaign shortly. He would also reveal the statistics.
Earlier, he introduced AINRC candidate R. Radhakrishnan to the partymen.
