Chennai: The resurfacing of charges against P. Chidambaram and his son Karti has come as a shocker to supporters of the former Union minister who want Karti to take the plunge into state politics, by contesting the forthcoming Assembly elections.
At a time when the AIADMK is trying to turn the spotlight on Aircel-Maxis deal in an attempt to revive the corruption charges against Congress, which has joined the DMK front, a section of Congress functionaries feels that the involvement of Chidambaram and Karti in campaign could help the AIADMK’s bid to paint the DMK-Congress front as an alliance of corrupt parties.
Though it is not known at the moment whether the AIADMK can succeed in kindling the quantum of resentment against the DMK-Congress combine on the issue of corruption which led to a the rout of two parties in 2011 Assembly polls, a section of functionaries advocates caution and wants the party leadership to preempt the rival’s move.
One of the Congress functionaries said, “I think Karti himself will desist from contesting the Assembly elections since he and his father have not shown interest in fighting Assembly polls. However, if he seeks party ticket to contest the Assembly elections, we will come out in the open and oppose such a move, in the interests of the party”.
Karti Chidambaram is one of the few Congress candidates who crossed one lakh votes in the 2014 Parliament elections when the grand old party contested alone. In the Sivagangai Parliament constituency, he secured over 10 per cent votes in the Assembly segments of Thirumayam, Karaikudi and Sivaganga. His supporters want him to contest in Thirumayam or Karaikudi and enter the Assembly.
Congress functionaries discounted the possibility of Karti fighting from Thirumayam, even if the seat was given to the Congress. They said one of Chidambaram’s loyalists Rama Subburam is seeking a ticket from Thirumayam and he will not do so without the consent of Chidambaram and Karti.
But, party functionaries in Karaikudi constituency are not sure about Karti’s plans for the Assembly elections. Karti Chidambaram was not available for comments.
Sources close to him did not rule out Karti contesting Assembly elections and said his plans would be known only after the seats for the Congress in the DMK alliance are known.
