Dissidence indicates democracy: TNCC(I)

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, APRIL 1. ``The dissident activities in the Tamil Nadu Congress(I) will not affect the development of the party in the State,'' the TNCC(I) president, Mr. Tindivanam K. Ramamurthy told presspersons here today.

Differences of opinion among the leaders and cadres in a `democratic' party should not be surprising. The party's elections being held all over the State demonstrated that it practised inner party democracy. He wondered why those, who had shown keen interest in the elections and dissident activities of the TNCC(I), were not commenting on the manner in which the organisational elections of the DMK were held. ``The DMK is said to be a democratic party,'' he said.

Renewing his call of `come back' to those who left the Congress(I), Mr. Ramamurthy said the TMC leader, Mr. G. K. Moopanar could rejoin the Congress(I) any time, as it would be a `homecoming' for him.

The TNCC(I) president said he did not see any reason for worry in the proposed meeting of Mr. Moopanar with AICC(I) president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi as both leaders had common issues to discuss, particularly after the formation of a new government in Pondicherry.

The existing alliance in the State `was good' and also expressed his desire that the same should continue for the coming assembly polls.

He criticised the Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi for not coming out with forthright views on the issue of raising the water level of Periyar Dam. The TNCC(I) stand in this regard, he said, would be taken only after knowing the details of the proposed talks to be held between the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala.

The former TNCC(I) president, Mr. K. V. Thangabalu, who was accompanying Mr. K. Sankaranarayanan, the `pradesh election authority' said he was here to ensure `free, fair and democratic' elections in the party. The cadres wanted the Congress(I) in the State to have a power-sharing agreement with alliance partners. ``The sentiments will be conveyed to the party president,'' he said.

Later a district-wise meeting was held to discuss the party elections in which cadres and leaders from the districts of Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Sivagangai and Virudhunagar, took part.

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