Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Campaign against Elangovan resumes

By Radha Venkatesan

Chennai May 28. The `oust Elangovan' campaign has been renewed with full vigour in the State Congress, with a majority of members of the newly-formed steering committee at a meeting in Delhi yesterday, calling for scrapping the post of TNCC working president.

Quite predictably, the predominant mood at the first meeting of the committee, convened by the AICC general secretary, Kamal Nath, suggested, `anti-Elangovan', say party insiders.

While a few, including the former TNCC chief, K.V.Thangabalu, openly complained against his "impetuous style of functioning", the AICC secretary, G.K.Vasan, and his supporters, are said to have couched it more politely, saying the "dual leadership" in State Congress, was running counter to the interest of the party. In effect, the Vasan camp, wanted E.V.K. S. Elangovan to be eased out of the post of working president too.

Even the sober State Congress chief, S.Balakrishnan, during his one-on-one discussions with Mr.Kamal Nath, reportedly emphasised that the dual leadership in the State Congress had not gone down well with either the Press or the public. For, Mr.Elangovan's `off-the-cuff'remarks were causing embarrassment to the party, he claimed. His `oratorical skills" could be better used for "specific assignments" such as for campaign committee chairperson, Mr.Balakrishnan suggested.

Mr. Elangovan, who was TNCC president till September last year, was demoted as working president, when Mr.Balakrishnan, a Vasan loyalist, was appointed TNCC chief, after the TMC merged with the Congress over nine months ago, thus creating dual power centre.

While for the first few months, the two leaders presented a picture of unity, trouble broke out during the appointment of district-level and booth-level functionaries. The infighting took an embarrassing turn with Mr.Balakrishnan sacking Elangovan supporters from the district Congress presidentship. But the high command stepped in to stall the disciplinary action and the appointments were put on hold.

No assurance yet

However, the not-so-good news for Elangovan baiters is that Mr.Kamal Nath, at yesterday's meeting, gave no word of assurance on removing him and putting an end to dual leadership. All he would say was that he would convey their views to the party president, Sonia Gandhi.

But indications are that till the celebrations on July 15 for the birth centenary of Kamaraj, in which Ms. Gandhi is scheduled to participate, the arrangement will be left undisturbed. But, the revamping from the booth to the district level would resume, when the AICC secretary, Sanjay Gaekwad, visits Chennai in the next few days, say party sources.

At yesterday's meeting, Mr.Balakrishnan is also said to have come in for flak from some of the steering committee members for making unilateral appointments to district and booth posts.

Nonetheless, the dissident camp is unlikely to give up until Mr. Elangovan is ousted.

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