Elangovan may get a reprieve, thanks to AIADMK

By Radha Venkatesan

CHENNAI, JULY 23. The Congress high command appears to have decided to ``rein in'' the State president, Mr. E.V.K.S. Elangovan, but not to remove him now bowing to the AIADMK's open demand for his ouster.

The TNCC president, who has been under fire from both the AIADMK and the State Congress dissidents, may yet get a reprieve, according to AICC sources. Ironically, the row between parties which cast an uncertainty over his continuance as TNCC president, appears helping Mr. Elangovan save his post at least for the next few months.

The AICC has, however, decided to depute a secretary exclusively for Tamil Nadu, possibly to keep a close watch on the activities of the TNCC leadership.

Though the former Union Ministers, Mr. Ramesh Chennithalah and Mr. Subodh Kant Sahay are now secretaries incharge of slew of States, the AICC general secretary, Mr. Gulam Nabi Azad, has decided to depute one of them exclusively for Tamil Nadu.

``As we are now concentrating on the coming Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, we are not able to give due attention to the TNCC. An AICC functionary will be appointed solely for looking into the State unit's affairs'', Mr. Azad told The Hindu.

However, Mr. Azad made it clear that the AICC had not even ``given thought'' to replacing Mr. Elangovan now. He hastened to add ``the question of change of guard is still open''.

A section of the AICC leaders is clearly unhappy with Mr. Elangovan's style of functioning and is said to be covertly backing the dissident demand for his removal. However, the high command feels it is not the ``right time'' to show him the door.

For one main reason: Had the AIADMK leader, Mr. K.A. Sengottaiyan, in his tirade against Mr. Elangovan, not criticised Ms. Sonia Gandhi, the AICC would have shown no reluctance to axe the TNCC chief. As Mr. Sengottaiyan came down heavily on Ms. Gandhi as well, the party is in no mood to oblige the AIADMK.

``If we remove him now, it will be perceived that the Congress approves of the criticism flung by the AIADMK at Ms. Gandhi'', admits a senior AICC leader.

It was precisely for this reason that the AICC openly backed Mr. Elangovan's controversial statement denouncing the Dravidian parties, which triggered the latest spat between the Congress and the AIADMK.

However, as Mr. Elangovan has an uncanny penchant for provocative statements and the Congress is not inclined to jeopardise its alliance with the AIADMK, he may be bridled soon, say the sources.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Southern States
Previous : Tearful farewell to Sivaji Ganesan
Next     : The thespian's last journey brings Chennai to a
           standstill