The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : An opportunity to bring back Kamaraj rule

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 22, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

An opportunity to bring back Kamaraj rule

By S. Vydhianathan

CHENNAI, DEC. 21. The coming together of leaders of the three major factions in the State unit of the Congress on Saturday has been well received by partymen.

The presence of the Union Ministers, P. Chidambaram and E.V.K.S. Elangovan, along with the Tamil Nadu Congress president, G.K. Vasan, on a single platform and their announcement that they would work together to revitalise the party augurs well for the party's future, which has been plagued by groupism over the last several years.

Partymen feel that unless the leaders of various groups put up a united effort, the benefits accruing from the Centre could not be realised.

They pointed out that while the other constituents of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) in the State are capitalising on welfare programmes initiated by the Centre, the Congress had not taken any initiative to make political gain out of it.

Issues such as Central clearance for the Sethusamudram project and its decision to make Tamil an official language should have been highlighted by the party by organising public meetings throughout the State with active participation of the party's Central Ministers.

Mr. Elangovan, as Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, was responsible for the withdrawal of CENVAT.

But the credit was taken by other UPA constituents.

Partymen recalled that similar joint meetings held by leaders in the past did not last long. The late G.K. Moopanar and his arch-rival, Vazhapadi K. Ramamurthi, came together on many occasions and made statements that they would work together to bring back the glorious days of the Congress.

In fact, all past presidents, including Tindivanam Ramamurthi, Kumari Ananthan, and K.V. Thangkabalu, as soon as they took charge of the leadership used to make grand announcements about their plans to make the party a vibrant unit. But within a few days they got fed up with groupism and gave up their attempts.

The present initiative by Mr. Vasan should not go the same way and should not be a passing phase. For this, he needed the support of the high command, which should not hesitate to pull up those indulging in activities detrimental to the party.

Change in mindset

With three Congress Ministers belonging to the State holding prime portfolios in the Central Cabinet, the party could do a lot. But there should be a change in the mindset of the leaders. They should sink their differences and work jointly in the interest of the party.

There is no doubt that the Congress is the major alternative to the Dravidian parties in the State.

But it is up to the leaders to strive hard to realise the dream of bringing back Kamaraj rule in the State.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu