Date:10/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/10/stories/2008081059660500.htm

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No party can come to power without the help of Congress: Thankgabalu

Special Correspondent

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president honours nine freedom fighters

K.V.Thankgabalu

CHENNAI: No party can think of coming to power in the country without the help of the Congress, said Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.V. Thankgabalu here on Saturday.

Participating in a function organised by the party in connection with the Quit India Movement anniversary, Mr. Thankgabalu said development works and people-oriented programmes got an impetus only when the Congress was in power. It would not be possible for communal forces to gain an upper hand as the Congress was a barrier against “evil designs” of such forces. Recalling sacrifices made by freedom fighters, he said party workers should emulate them. It was only in the Congress where leaders were not after power.

Though the party was not been in power in Tamil Nadu for the last 40 years, workers continued to remain loyal that was the strength of the State unit, he said.

Mr. Thankgabalu honoured nine freedom fighters.

Congress Legislature Party leader D. Sudarssanam; deputy leader D. Yesoda; MLAs K. Jayakumar and Polur Varadan; and former TNCC president Kumari Ananthan stressed the need for unity among party workers to bring back Kamaraj rule.

Supporters of former TNCC president M. Krishnasswamy organised a parallel meeting in the city where speakers expressed their disappointment over the treatment meted out to Mr. Krishnasswamy. They felt that he should have been given a party post at the Central level.

G. Kalan of the INTUC and M.K. Vishnuprasad and P.S. Vijaykumar, MLAs, who felicitated Mr. Krishnasswamy, said the party could not neglect his supporters.