AIADMK withdraws support to Pondy Ministry

By Suresh Nambath and S. Nadarajan

CHENNAI, NOV. 13. Upset over being left out of the Cabinet expansion, the AIADMK today withdrew support to the Congress Ministry in Pondicherry. After having pledged support to the new Ministry led by Mr. N. Rangasamy, the three-member party submitted a letter from the general secretary, Ms. Jayalalithaa, communicating withdrawal of support to the secretary to the Lt. Governor.

However, there is no immediate threat to the Congress Government which now enjoys the support of 19 legislators including two from the TMC and a couple of independents in the 30-member Territorial Assembly.

However, the TMC, an ally of the AIADMK, is likely to review its support. A decision is expected by the week-end, the party spokesperson, Mr. B. S. Gnanadesikan, said in Chennai.

After presenting the letter, the AIADMK State committee secretary, Mr. K. Natarajan, told reporters that the relations between the two parties had soured because of the `shallow promises' made by the PCC leader, Mr. V. Narayanasamy, that the AIADMK would be accommodated in the Ministry. According to him, initially the AIADMK felt that the Congress had 17 members and hence need not seek its support. It expressed its willingness to support the Government from outside, but Mr. Narayanasamy insisted that it be part of the new Ministry.

Indeed, Mr. Narayanasamy had told Ms. Jayalalithaa that the relations between the two parties should continue in Pondicherry irrespective of the situation in Tamil Nadu (where the Congress contested civic polls separately.) The PCC leader assured that the AIADMK would be given a ministerial berth in addition to the Speakership.

Now, the AIADMK felt deceived by Mr. Narayanasamy, Mr. Natarajan said, adding that however, the party was not obsessed with sharing of power with the Congress.

Consequently, there are now doubts over continuance of the AIADMK MLA, Mr. D. Ramachandran, as Speaker. The Congress, if it wants, can remove him. Incidentally, the Deputy Speaker post too is vacant, following induction of Mr. M. Chandirakasu into the Cabinet.

Mr. Narayanasamy later told reporters that he did not want to react to the AIADMK leaders' allegation fixing him as responsible for the break-up of the alliance. However, there was no threat to the Ministry, he said.

AIADMK functionaries at the headquarters in Chennai too attributed the break-up to the Congress attitude of letting down friends. The AIADMK does not like being ``thrown away after use''.

In any case, the alliance with the Congress was in a disarray in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK, which maintains a cordial relationship with the Congress Legislature Party in Tamil Nadu, is at loggerheads with the TNCC leadership. Indeed, Ms. Jayalalithaa did not invite the Congress for talks during the civic polls negotiations in an attempt to pressure the TNCC president, Mr. E.V.K.S. Elangovan. When this did not work, there were some half- hearted attempts to revive the alliance, but the Congress decided to fight the polls alone.

Now, after the developments in Pondicherry, it would be still more difficult to revive the alliance in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK is also likely to pressure the TMC to follow suit in Pondicherry. After the death of the TMC founder, Mr. G.K. Moopanar, the AIADMK is finding it easier to make the TMC toe its line.

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Section  : Southern States
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