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Congress seeks Tirunelveli Bishop support

By R. Rajaram

TUTICORIN Feb. 11. In a significant development, a high-level Congress team today met the Tirunelveli CSI Bishop, S. Jeyapaul David, at his residence in Palayamkottai and "sought his blessings and support" for the party in the Sattankulam byelection.

The meeting comes at a time when the bypoll to the constituency, where the minorities form a significant vote bank, is just a fortnight away. The team comprised the TNCC president, S. Balakrishnan, the working president, E.V.K.S. Elangovan, the former Union Minister, Dhanuskodi Adityan, and Peter Alphonse.

During the meeting which lasted about 30 minutes, "we sought the blessings and support for the Congress candidate and the party for the byelection," Mr. Peter Alphonse later told The Hindu over telephone.

The meeting assumes significance at the present election juncture as Christians form a sizeable section in the constituency, particularly in Nazareth.

Only on January 25 did three AIADMK Ministers — Anitha R. Radhakrishnan, A Miller and S. Semmalai — call on the Bishop in an apparent bid to assuage the ruffled feelings of Christians, who registered their protest against the anti-conversion law.

Meanwhile, at Sattankulam, the Congress conducted its first election committee meeting, in which top leaders and all panel members participated. During the meeting, which lasted over an hour, several issues were discussed. Mr. Alphonse said the party had a two-pronged strategy — preventing "fake voting" and consolidating Congress votes.

The party had divided the constituency into 11 zones, for which office-bearers were already appointed.

They would interact with grass roots workers and communicate with the high command.

The TNCC president released a propaganda cassette, which was received by Mr. Elangovan.

The Congress had planned to bring national-level leaders to the constituency for the campaign next week. Mr. Alphonse said the national-level leaders, Ramesh Chennithala and G.K. Vasan, would campaign after February 17.

The party would focus on the "misdeeds" of the AIADMK Government and its "anti-people" measures.

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