AICC notice to Ramamurthy

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, JUNE 6. The Congress(I) high command today issued a showcause notice to the former Tamil Nadu unit chief, Mr. Tindivanam Ramamurthy, and gave him seven days to submit a reply. The party's action follows Mr. Ramamurthy's outburst after his dismissal.

Announcing the party's decision, the spokesman, Mr. Ajit Jogi, said, ``Mr. Ramamurthy's actions are prima facie irresponsible and he has been issued a notice to show why action should not be taken against him.''

Protesting his removal, the former TNCC chief on Monday had some harsh words for his successor, Mr. Elangovan, calling him a ``deserter'' and predicted a 1996-type split in the State unit. He also made a thinly-veiled attack on the party chief, Ms. Sonia Gandhi, saying ``it is a very wrong move by the Congress(I) president, which will end the history of the party in the state''. He also came down hard on the CWC member, Mr. Arjun Singh, accusing him of holding Ms. Gandhi captive.

The action against Mr. Ramamurthy seems to signal the leadership's attitude. Similar changes have been made in Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Pondicherry, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar while a change of guard is on the anvil in Karnataka. Mr. Ramamurthy was the only one to have made public his protest and the party's action was meant to deter others following suit. ``We cannot afford to give the impression of acting from a position of weakness. Indiscipline will not be tolerated,'' said a CWC member.

Justifying the decision to replace some PCC chiefs while the organisational elections were on, the CWC member, Mr. Pranab Mukherjee, said the working committee had, in a resolution, empowered Ms. Gandhi to make the required changes. Terming the recent appointments a ``routine affair'', Mr. Mukherjee said it was necessary in some States as part of the revamping process.

Plan of action

Our Chennai Special Correspondent reports:

Shrugging off the showcause notice, Mr. Ramamurthy said he was happy the high command ``resorted to democratic practice at least at this stage.'' Asked about his future plans if he was expelled from the party, he shot back: ``My reply might be accepted by the high command.''

Continuing his tirade against the party high command particularly Mr. Arjun Singh, the former TNCC(I) chief charged that the nomination of Mr. Elangovan revealed Mr. Singh's stranglehold over the party. ``No self-respecting Congressman will accept the nomination of Mr. Elangovan,'' he declared.

Claiming that he was ``in touch'' with some CWC members opposed to Mr. Singh and also with local party leaders to decide on the next course of action, he said, `we will show which is the real Congress in Tamil Nadu.''

Meanwhile, the former MP, Mr. R. Anbarasu demanded Mr. Ramamurthy's expulsion for his outburst against the leadership and locking up the party office yesterday.

On the other hand, Mr. Elangovan dismissed Mr. Ramamurthy's remarks saying, ``he is a one-man army. And he cannot do any damage.'' Mr. Elangovan is likely to formally take charge on June 9. A group of party functionaries including the former TNCC(I) president, Mr. M. P. Subramaniam, have organised a reception for him at the airport.

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