Sonia Gandhi calls Jayalalithaa; greets her on poll victory

Sparking off speculation in political circles, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi has called All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) chief Jayalalithaa to congratulate her on her spectacular victory in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections.

Contrary to media reports, Gandhi did not invite Jayalalithaa for tea, Congress sources said. The call was made last night.

The sources said Gandhi rang up all the leaders, including N Rangasamy, who emerged victorious in the just-concluded assembly elections to four states and the Union Territory of Puducherry.

Rangasamy is a Congress rebel who launched his outfit on the eve of the polls and got a majority on his own in the 30-member assembly.

The Congress chief also spoke to ally Mamata Banerjee, who trounced the Left Front in West Bengal, Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and Oomen Chandy in Kerala, they said.

The sources said Gandhi had also called Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar when he won a second term last year.

In Chennai, when asked whether Gandhi had invited her for tea, Jayalalithaa said: "She (Gandhi) spoke to me over phone and congratulated on my victory."

Congress fought the assembly elections as part of the DMK alliance and ended up getting just 5 seats.