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I've not quit: Balakrishnan

By Our Special Correspondent

Chennai June 17. The State Congress president, S. Balakrishnan, who left for Delhi today to meet the party chief, Sonia Gandhi, said he continued to head the TNCC and that he had not resigned the post.

"I continue to be the TNCC chief and I speak to the Press now in my capacity as the State Congress chief," he told the media at the MLAs hostel here, before departure for Delhi. He claimed that the confusion in the party over his continuance in the post was triggered by the Congress general secretary, Kamal Nath's statement that the TNCC leadership would be changed within 15 days.

When a scribe pointed out that Mr. Kamal Nath issued a denial subsequently, Mr. Balakrishnan said he saw the televised interview of the Congress general secretary and only then did he call off his district tour.

Mr. Balakrishnan said he would brief Ms. Gandhi about the goings-on in the party and the reasons which forced him to cancel the tour plans.

Asked about his reported differences with the AICC secretary, G.K. Vasan, Mr. Balakrishnan said he had met him even yesterday and held consultations.

No alliance with AIADMK

As for the Chief Minister and AIADMK general secretary, Jayalalithaa's recent statement that her party would not align with the Congress if it projected Ms. Gandhi as the next Prime Minister, Mr. Balakrishnan retorted that the State Congress too was not interested in any tie-up with the AIADMK. "We will not agree to any alliance with the AIADMK in future."

Asked whether the party would align with the DMK, he said the State Congress would concentrate on strengthening the organisation and the high command alone would take a decision on any alliance.

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