The Hindu : Six MLAs resent CLP nominations

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 28, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Six MLAs resent CLP nominations

By Radha Venkatesan

Chennai Oct. 27. In yet another indication of simmering factional feud in the State Congress, six party MLAs have shot off a letter to the AICC president, Sonia Gandhi, complaining that the "erstwhile Tamil Maanila Congressmen" were being "unduly rewarded" and "loyalists marginalised".

Nearly three months after the merger of the G.K.Vasan-led TMC with the Congress, the "unified" party remains a divided house, as the "original" Congressmen feel that all plum posts in the party are going the "Vasan way". And, the recent nomination of former TMC floor leader in the Assembly, S.R.Balasubramaniam, as the new Congress Legislature Party leader has only fuelled their disgruntlement.

Initially, the Sriperumbudur MLA, D. Yasodha, who was demoted deputy leader from floor leader, the Udhagamandalam MLA, H.M. Raju, nominated whip, and the Namakkal MLA, K.Jayakumar appointed CLP treasurer, decided to turn down the "posts", as a mark of protest. However, in their letter to Ms.Gandhi, they said that "they have accepted the positions under protest".

The six of the seven "original Congress" MLAs (barring Polur Varadan), said: "We, your (Ms.Gandhi's) loyalists, are saddened that all the plum posts — lone Rajya Sabha seat, AICC secretary, TNCC president and now CLP leader — have been given to the erstwhile TMC, marginalising the deserving persons from the Congress". They claimed that "while those who are involved in opportunistic politics are unduly rewarded, we have been let down badly by denying us the CLP leadership."

Even before the merger, the Congress backed Mr.Vasan for the Rajya Sabha seat in the biennial election. And, at the merger mela on August 14 in Madurai, Mr.Vasan was appointed All-India Congress Committee secretary. A month ago, a Vasan loyalist, S.Balakrishnan was nominated State Congress president, demoting the incumbent, E.V.K.S.Elangovan as working president. Though the party high command offered posts for three "original" Congress MLAs, the "loss" of the CLP leadership left them sore. "We have gone through humiliations and untold miseries over the last six years and stood as a rock behind the party and your good self." The "rewarding" of erstwhile TMC men and "marginalisation" of "loyalists" "hurt the sentiments of loyal Congress workers and we are unable to answer them".

However, the Vasan camp has chosen to ignore the "missive", saying the strength of the Congress in the Assembly, which was only seven, had gone up to 25 only with the merger. Also, Mr. Balasubramaniam, became a natural choice because of his seniority and experience.

The conflict is likely to intensify when office-bearers for organisational units from the district to State level are finalised.

The Vasan camp is making a strong bid for 70 to 80 per cent of the posts on the ground that its "cadre strength is much higher". But, Elangovan supporters insist that they would not remain silent to "a majority of posts" being gifted away. The merger appears to be ushering in a repeat of the pre-1995 factional rivalry.

Only the old rivals, G.K.Moopanar and Vazhapadi K.Ramamurthy, are no more. And, a new factional order, led by Mr.Vasan and Mr.Elangovan, has taken over.

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