Kannan says he quit Cong because of 'betrayers'

PUDUCHERRY: Former Congress Rajya Sabha member P Kannan has finally opened his heart and revealed the reason for quitting the national party. Speaking to reporters on Tuesday he said he quit the party as he was surrounded by betrayers. He said he joined AIADMK with a sole intention to work for the uplift of the people and the Union territory and to prevent anti-people and corrupt parties in assuming power in the Union territory.
"A single man cannot serve the public. So after quitting Congress I joined AIADMK as I have genuine concern for the people and to work for their uplift and the region," he said.
He said he did not aspire to become the chief minister of Puducherry when asked why the AIADMK did not announce its chief ministerial candidate. "I had such aspirations earlier. But not now. My focus is to work for AIADMK's victory in the Union territory," he said.
Kannan undoubtedly the senior-most politician in the territory was instrumental in grooming several politicians including the sitting Congress MLA K Lakshminarayanan, who is contesting against him from Raj Bhavan constituency. Apart from Lakshminarayanan he was the mentor for Lok Sabha MP R Radhakrishnan (AINRC), welfare minister P Rajavelu (AINRC), sitting MLAs Theni C Jayakumar (Congress) and A Namassivayam (Congress) and former minister M Kandasamy (Congress) and a host of others.
Charging that corruption ruled the roost in AINRC regime in Puducherry, Kannan said people were put to immense hardships even to get basic services like power connection.
He said people now find a ray of hope for redemption after AIADMK general secretary J Jayalalithaa's assurance that the party will ensure 50-year growth in five years' time if voted to power in the forthcoming polls.