Ex-MP Peter Alphonse and party spokesman Gopanna have decided to stay back
Ex MP Peter Alphonse and Congress spokesman Gopanna
Chennai: With G K Vasan all set to announce quitting the Congress party and reviving his father Moopanar’s Tamil Maanila Congress on Monday, some of his loyalists have decided to stay back in the parent Congress. Foremost of them are party spokesman Gopanna, former MP K. S. Alagiri and prominent legislator Ms Vijayadharani. Ex-MP Peter Alphonse is yet to decide, say sources.
But on the positive side for Mr Vasan, former PCC chief B. S. Gnanadesikan has sworn allegiance and at least two of the five Congress members in the present state legislature — Mr N. R. Rangarajan and Mr John Jacob are in his camp.
Another prominent loyalist, M. Yuvaraja, insists that most of the State Youth Congress and NSUI functionaries have already quit the Congress in support of Mr Vasan. “We have decided to work hard, down the grassroots, to strengthen Vasan’s hands”, said Mr Yuvaraja, who insists he continues to be the state Youth Congress president and his replacement last year “is just not valid”.
Mr Vasan is meeting his lieutenants Monday morning and has called for press conference at 12.01 pm, that is, 60 seconds after the inauspicious yamagandam ends.
“Thalaivar has taken the decision to leave the Congress and revive TMC”, said a Vasan loyalist requesting anonymity. “Vasan has no option but to quit as his chemistry with Rahul Gandhi got foul”, he added.
Ex-loyalist Gopanna is among the Congressmen who have expressed strong reservations against Mr Vasan revolting against the party high command “on such a minor issue as removal of the pictures of Kamaraj and Moopanar from the party membership cards”. He pointed out that the AICC had subsequently denied any such thing had happened.
( Source : dc correspondent )
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