Chennai: The most pleasing face of the Congress from Tamil Nadu has quit the party in disgust. G K Vasan, former union minister and the son of Congress stalwart G K Moopanar has announced in Chennai that he is no longer with the Congress. In a hurriedly convened press meet Vasan said, "Youngsters expect new political culture in Tamil Nadu, we have a duty to fulfill. Democracy, secular, social justice are our goals. We request people of Tamil Nadu to give us the same support you gave to Moopanar."
Vasan is reviving his father's party Tamil Manila Congress or TMC in the state 18 years after his father launched it in protest against the then Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao's decision to ally with J Jayalalithaa's AIADMK in the 1996 general elections.
The TMC was a big success and it even joined the United Front government led by H D Deve Gowda and I K Gujral between 1996 and 1998. The TMC was merged with the Congress after Sonia Gandhi took charge as the president of the Congress.
It is an irony that Moopanar's son has now quit the Congress in protest against Sonia Gandhi's handling of the party affairs. It is highly likely that Vasan will call his new party TMC.
In a scathing statement, Vasan said, "Name and flag announcement in Trichy and the date to be announced in 2-3 days. Congress leaders have called us back; I would like to thank them. But, I have resigned from the Congress. We want to be an alternate for Tamil Nadu people. We want to lead the state. We want to fulfill the vision of Kamraj. The Congress is not connected to the people."
He also raised the Sri Lankan Tamil issue. He said, "Our stand is never with banned organization LTTE. We are with the poor people who have suffered. We were not satisfied with the way of achieving goal in Tamil Nadu. So we have taken this decision. I am starting a new party. The rest is up to the Election Commission."
He also emphasized on the fact that the Congress has been out of power in Tamil Nadu for the past 47 years.
After drawing a blank in the recent Lok Sabha elections, the Congress is staring at a total decimation in Tamil Nadu. The 'top heavy' organization in the state is divided into several smaller factions led by more than half a dozen leaders.
While Vasan is known as a grassroot level leader, the rest are known as Delhi leaders of the Congress in Tamil Nadu. Vasan is opposed to former Union minister P Chidambaram, Manishankar Aiyar and many others.
The 'ill-treatment' of the state Congress president B S Jnanadesikan by the high command was the last straw. Vasan is hoping that he can exploit the fluid political situation in the state in the Assembly elections, due in May 2016.
J Jayalalithaa is out of power after being convicted in a corruption case. She can't even contest in the next elections. The DMK is facing internal rebellion and other smaller parties are also not in a good shape. The BJP is also trying to strengthen the party in Tamil Nadu keeping an eye on the next Assembly elections.
Vasan hopes that his father's name still sells in rural Tamil Nadu and he can be the king maker, if not the king. Vasan has one advantage which most Tamil party leaders lack. He is simple, very humble and listens to the people. He is relatively younger and understands the issues facing the state. The exit of Vasan from the Congress will surely affect the party in Tamil Nadu. Even the hardcore Congress leaders in the state are describing the party as a 'sinking ship'.
Vasan has jumped out of the sinking ship to captain his own new ship. Will he succeed? One has to wait till the 2016 Assembly elections.
Comments
0 comment