Congress discord sours further

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 18. Even as the AIADMK-Congress ties have come under strain once again, dissensions in the State Congress have taken an unseemly turn.

While scores of Congressmen today took to the streets and burnt effigies of the Mayiladuthurai MP, Mr. Mani Shankar Aiyar, for his ``blatant support of the AIADMK'', the dissident camp clamoured for the resignation of the TNCC president, Mr. E.V.K.S. Elangovan, for ``jeopardising the alliance with the AIADMK''.

A group of Congressmen here led by the local district presidents burnt effigies of Mr. Aiyar and demanded his immediate removal from the party. They also raised slogans against the AIADMK for ``criticising the Congress leadership''. Similar effigy-burning incidents were reported from Erode and Pollachi.

Amidst a verbal duel between the AIADMK and the State Congress following Mr. Elangovan's remarks at a public meeting denouncing the Dravidian parties, Mr. Aiyar yesterday fully endorsed the AIADMK's view that the TNCC president be sacked to save the alliance.

The dissident group led by the former MP, Mr. Adaikalaraj, which has been gunning for Mr. Elangovan, too has intensified the ``ouster'' campaign.

In a counter-offensive, Mr. Elangovan's supporters including Mr. Jayakumar, MLA, have sent fax messages to the president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, complaining about Mr. Aiyar's ``denigrating remarks against the Congress'' and the AIADMK's ``arrogance''.

For his part, Mr. Elangovan said he had informed the high command of the AIADMK leader, Mr. K. A. Sengottaiyan's ``critical remarks against Mrs. Gandhi''.

Signalling that the spat between the allies is far from over, Mr. Elangovan said: ``Should I not speak of restoring Kamaraj rule on Kamaraj's birthday? If the AIADMK continues to attack the Congress leadership, I will not remain silent.''

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Section  : Southern States
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