The Hindu : Cong.-TMC merger on Aug.1

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2002

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Cong.-TMC merger on Aug.1

By Javed M. Ansari

NEW DELHI JUNE 17. The long-awaited merger of the Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC) with the Congress will take place on August 1.

The merger will be formalised at a rally to be attended by the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi.

That the proposed merger is being viewed with great optimism in the party was evident from the broad smiles on the faces of the leaders and the reaction of Congressmen after the TMC delegation emerged from its meeting with the Congress president. Ms. Gandhi had, in her speech at the AICC session last month, said the "party would be strengthened by the return of the TMC in Tamil Nadu". The TMC chief, G.K. Vasan, said the merger would strengthen the party both in the State as well as at the national level, while the AICC secretary in-charge of Tamil Nadu, Ramesh Chennitala, was more forthcoming. "We will soon be the first front in the State."

A comprehensive revamp of the State unit is also on the anvil, and a four-member committee, comprising two members from each side, is reported to have been agreed upon to work on the nitty-gritty of the merger.

Mr. Vasan said the issue of distribution of posts had been left to Ms. Gandhi and that his partymen would abide by her decision.

Congress sources said an overhaul of the TNCC would take place only after the merger on August 1.

It is, however, reliably learnt that Mr. Vasan is reluctant to take charge of the TNCC and would instead prefer to take up the post of a secretary in the AICC.

Keen on consolidating the gains of the proposed merger, the Congress leadership is now engaged in bringing around the TNCC leaders to ensure that the assimilation of the TMC leaders into the party is a smooth affair. "I will sit with the leaders of my party and sort out the nitty-gritty," Mr. Chennitala said.

The AICC leadership feels that the merger is part of a process to try and ensure the return of all those who had left the Congress in the State.

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