The Hindu : Cong., TMC to merge on July 15?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jun 17, 2002

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Cong., TMC to merge on July 15?

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI JUNE 16. Six years after it broke away from the Congress, the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) is all set to return back to its fold. A TMC delegation, led by its chief, G. Vasan, will meet the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, tomorrow to finalise the details of the merger.

Mr. Vasan arrived here today along with the members of his Political Affairs Committee to finalise the modalities and the date of the merger. He held a detailed meeting with the AICC secretary in-charge of Tamil Nadu, Ramesh Chennitala. "We will announce the date of the merger tomorrow," Mr. Chennitala said.

Both sides are keen on completing the merger at the earliest and would ideally prefer the event to take place on the former Congress leader, Kamaraj's birth anniversary on July 15. They are planning on making the merger a big event and will request Ms. Gandhi's presence at the ceremony. "We want to make it a huge event so that it sends a strong message across the State," a senior TMC leader said.

The merger has been on the cards for some time now, and the leaders of the two parties have held a series of meetings both here and in Chennai to tie up the loose ends. Though they refused to give details, it is learnt that after the merger, the PCC would be recast and the post of PCC chief would be given to Mr. Vasan.

Though the TMC chief appeared reticent, several of his partymen made no secret of their claim to the top job on the basis of the fact that in the State the TMC was the bigger party. "We have a young and dynamic leader and his appointment will give a very important message," a senior TMC leader said.

The TNCC chief, E.V.K.S. Elangovan, also flew into the capital this morning to take part in the consultations.

Leaders of both parties believe that a unified Congress would be a force to reckon with in Tamil Nadu. "A united Congress will emerge as a very powerful political force," Mr. Vasan said.

The strength of the Congress in the Assembly would go up to 30 after the merger; the TMC has 23 MLAs and the Congress 7. The TMC also has two Rajya Sabha MPs. Its men hold the posts of Chairman of 13 Municipal Corporations and also that of a Mayor.

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