Chennai: Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president B.S. Gnanadesikan did not waste much time in retaliating to the DMK president M. Karunanidhi’s diatribe against the grand old party of Indian politics.
In an urgently convened media briefing, specifically organised to react to Karunanidhi’s caustic remarks, Gnanadesikan said the DMK has made it a habit to walk out of alliances ahead of polls. “The Congress is ready to respond if Karunanidhi lists out the Congress’ betrayals. Congress is not in such a (weak) state to apologise to DMK,” he said.
Ironically, Gnanadesikan’s predecessor K.V. Thangkabalu responded differently to the DMK by welcoming Karunanidhi’s subtle offer of support to his party. Justifying his abstention from the Lok Sabha polls, Mr Thangkabalu said that Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has given chances to youngsters. “I have won Lok Sabha polls thrice and hence I did not contest the election this time. I will campaign for Congress candidates across the state,” he said adding that he welcomes Karunanidhi’s indirect offer of support to the Congress party.
But what appears to Thangkabalu as an “offer of support” is largely perceived by Congressmen as an all out assault on their party by most other Congressmen.
Karunanidhi has never been so vocal in attacking the Congress party ever since quitting the UPA-II government in March 2013. An outspoken DMK baiter in the Congress and the party's candidate for Tirupur E.V.K.S. Elangovan has thus far remained silent on Karunanidhi’s tirade.
