Odishatv Bureau
Chennai: Livid at Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy`s "unilateral" decision to form a single-party rule despite an alliance with her party, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Thursday 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 only due to their confidence in me and my party, as I had campaigned for the alliance in the Union Territory for the elections. Puducherry Chief Minister Rangasamy`s unilateral announcement of a single party rule amounts to betrayal," she said in a strongly-worded statement here.

She said while 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.

Jayalalithaa said she greeted Rangasamy before he was to take over the reins, but he had not returned the gesture, which she said amounted to "not being loyal".

"He did not even inform me when he went to meet the Lt. Governor to stake claim to form government. His joining hands with an independent (VMC Sivakumar) who won against an AIADMK candidate (M Selvaraj) to form a single-party rule is against coalition dharma," she said.

`Condemning` his activities, Jayalalithaa said her party would now work as a constructive opposition".

Jayalalithaa recalled the words of Dravidian veteran C N Annadurai saying that it was the duty of the Opposition to pinpoint how the decisions and administration of the rulers affect the country and vowed her party`s commitment for the welfare of the people of the neighbouring Union Territory.

Making a spectacular electoral debut that ended the DMK-supported Congress rule, the AINRC, formed on poll eve, had secured two-thirds majority in the 30-member Assembly in alliance with AIADMK.

AINRC had won 15 seats and AIADMK five in the April 13 polls. Rangasamy has a simple majority of 16 seats with the support of Sivakumar, a rebel DMK candidate.

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