Senior Congress leader to support AIADMK

Chennai, Mar 16 (UNI) In an embarrasment to the Congress, which is facing the ensuing Assembly elections in alliance with the DMK, senior Congress leader and party's star speaker Nellai Kannan today pledged his support to the ruling AIADMK.

Mr Kannan, who was known for his powerful oratorical skills, called on AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa at her Poes Garden residence and expressed his wish to campaign for the victory of the AIADMK Front in the May eight Assembly elections.

The AIADMK would make all arrangements for his election tour across the state, a party release here said.

Mr Kannan was the second Congress leader to come out openly in support of the AIADMK after former TNCC President 'Tindivanam' Ramamurthy. The latter, who was expelled from the Congress on the ground of 'indiscipline,' had since floated a new outfit 'Tamil Nadu Indira Congress.' Mr Kannan, who unsuccessfully contested against DMK President M Karunanidhi in the 1996 Assembly elections, had strongly criticised the electoral ties between the Congress and the DMK.

He had even recently declared that he was ready to contest against Mr Karunanidhi again if Ms Jayalalithaa wished so.

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