Thangabalu firm on Elangovan's ouster

By Our Staff Reporter

MADURAI, JAN. 26. A forceful plea for the nomination of a ``new leadership'' to steer the Congress(I) in the State in the coming Assembly election has been made by the former Union Minister, Mr. K. V. Thangabalu.

Addressing presspersons here today, Mr. Thangabalu accused the TNCC(I) president, Mr. E.V.K.S. Elangovan, of acting ``against the wishes'' of the party high command. Though he did not possess any powers to nominate DCC(I) chiefs, Mr. Elangovan had announced the names of new presidents for two units in Madurai, without the authorisation of the party president, Ms. Sonia Gandhi. However, the existing DCC(I) chiefs would continue to function in their respective posts as their replacement had not been cleared by the party high command.

Mr. Elangovan, Mr. Thangabalu said, was also guilty of issuing statements that contradicted the party's stand vis-a-vis the AIADMK, its alliance partner in the State. The TNCC(I) president, he charged, had not convened the meeting of any organisational body ever since he took over the reins of the party, which had pushed the Congress(I) into a state of inertia.

Claiming that there was no factional feud in the party, Mr. Thangabalu said their opposition to the continuation of Mr. Elangovan as TNCC(I) president was ``based on principles.''

He argued that Ms. Sonia Gandhi's decision to continue with Mr. Elangovan meant that it would hold till such time an alternative arrangement was made. He was confident that Ms. Sonia Gandhi would announce a decision on the TNCC(I) leadership at an appropriate time.

Mr. Thangabalu, even while insisting that his faction consisted of ``the true followers of Ms. Sonia Gandhi and representatives of the Congress ideology,'' claimed that about 95 per cent of the party workers in the State were ``his followers.'' He explained that he had undertaken a tour of the districts in order ``to strengthen the hands of Ms. Sonia Gandhi'' and to ``make the TNCC(I) a vibrant unit.'' Mr. Thangabalu said his faction would abide by any decision taken by Ms. Sonia Gandhi regarding poll alliance in the State.

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Section  : Southern States
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