Sonia, Moopanar may share platform

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JUNE 15. The much-anticipated merger of the TMC with the Congress may not happen on July 15, birth anniversary of Kamaraj. But the State Congress has planned to bring together the AICC president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, and the TMC president, Mr. G.K. Moopanar, at a public meeting to mark the late Congress leader's birth anniversary.

Though the two parties worked in unison in the recent Assembly election, the two leaders are yet to share a platform after the TMC was born in 1996.

Efforts for joint campaigning by Mr. Moopanar and Mrs. Sonia Gandhi for the Assembly election came a cropper as the Congress chief chose to keep away from electioneering in Tamil Nadu.

In a bid to bring the two parties closer as a prelude to the merger, the State Congress has invited Mrs. Sonia Gandhi and Mr. Moopanar for a public meeting to mark Kamaraj birthday.

The TNCC president told reporters here that a ``gala celebration'' had been planned and the public meeting would be held either in Tirunelveli or Madurai.

While Mr. Moopanar has so far deftly skirted the issue of merger with his parent party, the Congress high command appears anxious for a ``reunion'' to strengthen the party in the State.

And, a joint celebration of Kamaraj birthday would enhance the ``we are two parties yet one in goal and leadership'' image that the two were trying to assiduously project. Besides, it would be another crucial step forward in the merger proposal, say Congress leaders.

Meanwhile, the State Congress has completed its signature campaign against the Vajpayee Government over the Tehelka defence deal expose.

The collected signatures would be handed over to the senior AICC leader, Mr. Madhavsinh Solanki, at a meeting of the district congress committee presidents in Tiruchi tomorrow.

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Section  : Southern States
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