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Estranged Tamil Maanila Congress leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram has launched a new political outfit. Christened, the TMC-Democratic Forum, the new outfit would be in place only for 60 days, until after the assembly elections, he told newsmen in Madras.
Chidambaram's decision followed his failure to persuade the TMC leadership to reconsider the electoral alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, he said. "We will work to defeat the AIADMK alliance in the assembly elections, and work with the DMK-led alliance," Chidambaram declared.
Coming as it does just a day after Chidambaram called on G K Moopanar at the latter's residence, his announcement Friday has upset the TMC leadership.
It is known that four TMC MLAs are with Chidambaram and sources claim the support of more, "who will now come out in the open, now that PC has taken a stand."
Indications are that the new outfit will contest the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry as part of the DMK-led NDA in the state, and possibly on the DMK's 'Rising Sun' symbol. This will avoid the DMK's problems in seat-sharing.
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