DMK bigwigs miss TNCC chief’s birthday

Curiously, the same nonagenarian Karunanidhi had issued a statement greeting Congress president Sonia Gandhi a fortnight back, precisely, a few days after the torrential rains marooned Chennai. A few days later, the DMK bigwigs had managed to locate superstar Rajinikanth, who was touring Goa then, and greeted him over phone on his birthday on December 12.

The question that intrigues Sathyamurthy Bhavan now is whether Anna Arivalayam was deliberately keeping away from it or cold-shouldering its loose cannon state boss Elangovan. The answer could perhaps be both. At least that is what the Congressmen grudgingly admit and the DMK udanpirapus confide.

“Demanding share in power and suggesting portfolios in mid 2015 for 2016 Assembly poll was Elangovan’s biggest mistake. It irritated our leadership as much as the DMK. AICC did not like Elangovan revealing our party’s intentions. Add his recent diatribes against various leaders, occasionally even the DMK, it had only forced Kalaignar to even consider simple greetings an avoidable necessity ahead of polls,” said a senior TNCC leader requesting anonymity. While some Elangovan lieutenants defended the snub, DMK insiders with the ringside view of the development argued, “Thalaivar issued a greeting statement for Sonia’s birthday.”