Livid at Puducherry chief minister N. Rangasamy’s “unilateral” decision to form a single-party government despite an alliance with her party, Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa on Thursdat accused him of “backstabbing” and said AIADMK would function as a “constructive” opposition.
As cracks developed in their alliance within a few days after All-India NR Congress (AINRC) leader Rangasamy assumed office as chief minister, Jayalalithaa charged him with “betraying” AIADMK by his “unilateral” announcement. “The people of Puducherry voted for the AIADMK-AINRC combine, as I had campaigned for the alliance in the Union Territory for the elections. Puducherry CM Rangasamy’s unilateral announ-cement of a single party rule amounts to betrayal,” she said in a statement here. She said while Mr Rangasamy, who had floated the party after his ouster chief minister of Puducherry following intra-party revolt against him, had talked about “betrayal” by the Congress then, but had now done the same to AIADMK. Ms Jayalalithaa said she greeted Mr Rangasamy before he was to take over the reins, but he had not returned the gesture. —PTI