Date:11/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/11/stories/2008071160550800.htm

New Delhi

Thankgabalu meets Sonia

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Newly appointed Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.V. Thankgabalu on Thursday called on AICC president Sonia Gandhi and general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

It is learnt that they discussed political situation in Tamil Nadu in the wake of the exit of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) from the DMK-led Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA).

Appointment of office-bearers to various posts, including district Congress committees, and strategies to be adopted by the party for the Lok Sabha polls also figured in the discussion.

Mr. Thankgabalu, who also met Vayalar Ravi, in-charge of the party unit in Tamil Nadu, later told The Hindu that he enjoyed the support of all leaders.

This would help him to strengthen the organisation and its unity.

With such a support he was hopeful that the present 20 per cent vote share of the Congress in Tamil Nadu could be further increased.

“Strong and smooth”

On ties with the DMK, he said the UPA at the Centre and the DPA in Tamil Nadu were going “strong and smooth.”

Mr. Thankgabalu replied in the negative when asked whether the ouster of PMK from the DPA would affect the unity of “secular forces” in the State.