The Hindu : Is it a Cong. signal on alignments?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 19, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - News Analysis

Is it a Cong. signal on alignments?

By V. Jayanth

CHENNAI Nov. 18. Though the appointment of G.K. Vasan as president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee was not unexpected, the timing of the announcement has certainly taken political circles in the State by surprise. The TNCC functionaries themselves are wondering why the change has been effected now, when the party is fully involved in an election campaign in five States.

The question uppermost in the minds of not just the Congressmen but also leaders of friendly parties is whether the AICC is sending out any signal on future alignments in Tamil Nadu. At a time when the Congress here was working closely with the DMK and Left parties, a change at the helm could throw a spanner in the works, say party sources.

It may be too premature to talk of electoral alliances in Tamil Nadu and the DMK, at any rate, is not inclined to rock the NDA boat at this stage. While remaining in the BJP-led NDA at the Centre, the DMK has divorced itself from the State BJP unit and, along with the Left parties and the Congress, is forging an anti-AIADMK platform. It remains to be seen how the DMK will take to Mr. Vasan and especially some of his supporters who took a pro-AIADMK line in the past and have been critical of any ties with the DMK.

According to TNCC sources, the pro-Vasan group has been lobbying with the high command to get him installed as the TNCC chief. They argued that the "dual leadership" of a president and a working president in the State unit was causing harm to the party and confusing cadres. Having worked for some time now in the AICC as secretary and got to know the functioning of the party and its approach to issues, Mr. Vasan, his supporters felt, would be ready to assume leadership of the TNCC - as perhaps "its youngest president". Given his standing as the son of the late G.K. Moopanar, he could also draw on that legacy.

But the rival camp took the stand that the change of leadership at this stage could send out a wrong signal not only to the cadres but also the "emerging secular front." "If Mr. Vasan was keen on TNCC leadership, he should have remained here and taken it up much earlier. We see no logic in this change now," argued a staunch loyalist of E.V.K.S. Elangovan, who, he asserted, had provided "a voice and space for the Congress here".

However, going by the way the party functions, there will be no challenge to the appointment, but it will be dissension as usual in the TNCC. It is now up to Mr. Vasan to prove his mettle and try not only to unite the different factions but also begin rebuilding the party. His friends say he will follow the party line and abide by the high command directions.

When contacted in New Delhi, Mr. Vasan said, "I have made it clear to both the party high command and the State leaders that I will work together with everyone and do my very best to rebuild the party. It is a huge responsibility entrusted to me and I need the cooperation of everybody to achieve our cherished objective of restoring Kamaraj rule in Tamil Nadu."

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