In a dramatic turn, All India NR Congress president and former Chief Minister N. Rangasamy seems to have evinced an interest to revive the alliance with All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
According to party sources, Mr. Rangasamy has given a letter through AIADMK MP N. Gokulakrishnan to AIADMK supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa seeking an appointment to pay her a courtesy call.
Although the AINRC has lost power, it has eight MLAs in the 30-member House and represents a force to reckon with in the Assembly. The Congress has 15 and its ally the DMK 2.
Though the AIADMK and AINRC faced the 2011 Assembly polls together as allies, they turned bitter foes after the elections when Mr. Rangasamy ignored the power-sharing agreement and formed government on his own.
During Mr. Rangasamy’s regime, the AIADMK MLAs were highly critical of the functioning of the AINRC government. Towards the end of last year, the AINRC had to rely on the AIADMK leadership for assistance to avert fall of the government when a group of AINRC MLAs raised a banner of revolt at the time of Rajya Sabha polls.
Subsequently, Mr. Rangasamy’s chosen nominee Mr. Gokulakrishnan was fielded as an AIADMK candidate and elected unopposed.
Contrary to the expectations of second rung leaders, the alliance between both parties did not revive at the time of the Assembly elections. Ms. Jayalalithaa had harsh words reserved for Mr. Rangasamy and during the elections both parties went alone.
“The way the AINRC leadership sees it, the combined strength of AINRC and AIADMK, which has four representatives, will make it a formidable force inside and outside the Assembly. In any crisis to the present government, we may be in position to rise as an alternative,” said a senior leader who did not want to be quoted.
Party sources added that if both the parties had formed an alliance, they could have formed the government in the UT.
On Thursday, Mr. Rangasamy convened a meeting of the AINRC legislators to discuss the floor strategy.
It can be noted that the eight AINRC MLAs stayed away from the swearing in ceremony and also preferring instead, to accept the oath in the Speaker’s chamber.