Skips T.N. to avoid embarrassment

By Our Special Correspondent

PONDICHERRY, MAY 8. The Congress president, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, who visited Pondicherry today to campaign for the Congress-TMC alliance in the Union Territory, chose to keep away from electioneering in Tamil Nadu.

Though the official reason given was ``lack of time,'' party circles claim that she ``avoided'' Tamil Nadu where her ally, Ms. Jayalalitha, is fighting a high-stake battle to wrest power, ``on advice'' from party seniors.

As the Congress virtually has no stakes in the State and is contesting only 14 seats, the party leaders asked her not to include Tamil Nadu in her itinerary. Also, for Mrs. Gandhi to campaign for the pro-LTTE PMK-inclusive electoral front led by Ms. Jayalalitha, who has been convicted and debarred from contesting in election, would be a ``huge embarrassment.''

``It will blunt the Congress fight against the BJP over the Tehelka expose if she defends Ms. Jayalalitha,'' a senior Congress leader said.

Interestingly, at her election meeting here this afternoon, she cautiously avoided any reference to the AIADMK and the PMK.

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Section  : State Elections
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