Rumblings have died down: Moopanar

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, APR. 6. Even as the Tamil Maanila Congress president, Mr. G. K. Moopanar, today said ``rumblings'' in the party had ``died down'', the rebel leader, Mr. P. Chidambaram, stepped up his offensive and announced plans to campaign against the AIADMK- TMC tie-up in almost all Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu for ``16 to 17 days''.

In a statement on the eve of the party entering its sixth year, Mr. Moopanar, in an obvious reference to Mr. Chidambaram's revolt, said the recent events had shown that the party would not ``bend or cheapen'' its goals to suit the ``likes and dislikes'' of a few individuals. ``The party's political approach is driven by ideals''.

The TMC's decision, taken after feeling the pulse of lakhs of cadres and to give shape to the ``public upsurge'', had won the admiration of the people of Tamil Nadu. And, they see the TMC as the `beacon' of Tamil Nadu politics, he claimed.

Asserting that the TMC had never given up people's welfare for the sake of political friendships, Mr. Moopanar said the party, which was born to nurture nationalistic ideals and the rights of States, was emerging as a ``big unshakeable force'' in Tamil Nadu.

He called upon his partymen to participate in big numbers at a public meeting to be held at Triplicane here tomorrow to mark its anniversary, to scotch ``speculation and conspiracies'' and prove that the TMC is a massive people's movement.

A couple of hours after Mr. Moopanar's statement, the dissident leader, Mr. Chidamabaram told the media that his newly- formed TMC Democratic Forum, a protest movement against the AIADMK front, was gaining momentum and 1729 units had been registered till this afternoon. ``And, 60 to 65 per cent of the members of the forum are TMC cadres and functionaries''.

Asked whether he would campaign against the TMC candidates, he merely said: ``First, let them announce the candidates. We will decide later''. In some constituencies, he might campaign from the platform of the DMK front, but would mostly address meetings to be organised by the forum.

Stepping up his offensive against the AIADMK general secretary, Ms. Jayalalitha, Mr. Chidmabaram said her recent statement on the alliance in Pondicherry (that her party will lead the front in the Union Territory as well) was a proof that she had not reformed. Referring to her conviction in two corruption cases, he said: ``it is not corruption alone which is an issue. But the tolerance of corruption is also an issue. Without expressing regret for the acts of corruption, the AIADMK was justifying it''.

On Ms. Jayalalitha moving the Madras High Court for suspension of her conviction to enable her to stand in the election, Mr. Chidambaram said her petition had virtually conceded that she could not contest without a specific direction from the court.

``Will be a Congressman''

Significantly, Mr. Chidambaram declared that he would remain a Congressman ``till my last breath''. The splintering of the Congress was ``not good'' for the country, he said.

Mr. Chidambaram, who met the Congress president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi in Delhi recently, said there was nothing secretive about the meeting. As a member of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Trust headed by Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, he said, he had met her.

Asked whether political issues came up for discussions during the meeting, he said, they spoke about several issues.

On whether he wanted the TMC to merge with the Congress, he said he wanted the TMC to return to its original path (anti-AIADMK plank) chalked out in 1996.

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