Representatives of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Sunday met former Chief Minister N. Rangasamy, who quit the Congress a few days ago and his seat in the Legislative Assembly.
The meeting assumed political significance as his followers had publicly declared their leader's intention of floating a new party to oust the Congress from power in the Union Territory.
Shortly after meeting Mr. Rangasamy, Member of Parliament and AIADMK propaganda secretary M. Thambi Durai and former Minister S. Semmalai told reporters that it was only “a courtesy call.”
Mr. Thambi Durai said, “Obviously, when politicians meet politics would be on the agenda.”
He said Mr. Rangasamy's resignation from Congress meant that he was interested in seeing an alternative government in the Union Territory. He expressed optimism that the AIADMK would form the government in Tamil Nadu and provide an alternative to the Congress in Puducherry after the Assembly polls.
Ever since Mr. Rangasamy started distancing himself from the Congress after he was removed from the Chief Minister's post, local AIADMK leaders have been trying to reach out to him.
Immediately after Mr. Rangasamy resigned from the MLA's post, a delegation of AIADMK leaders, led by secretary of Puducherry unit of the party, A. Anbalagan, met the former Chief Minister to greet him. Besides, the leaders have on record proclaimed their party's interest in associating with him.
Though Mr. Rangasamy has been maintaining silence on the launch of a new party or about his future plans, his supporters told TheHindu that he would take a decision on the alliance after forming the party.
Preliminary round of talks
Later in the day, the AIADMK leaders held a preliminary round of talks with leaders of Puducherry unit of the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Mr. Thambi Durai said they discussed the general political situation prevailing in the Union Territory.
