CHENNAI: The DMK’s bid to include Tamil Maanila Congress, a breakaway group of Congress, has led to divisions in DMK-Congress front with Congress leaders alleging that DMK is using TMC to reduce the number of seats for the national party.
While there are reports that TMC leader G.K.Vasan is waiting for an invitation from AIADMK, he seems to be watching the developments in DMK-Congress alliance.
Vasan, who does not have a good offer from AIADMK, is keenly waiting for a chance to join the DMK fold with a better offer. His waiting game has put his parent body, Congress, in a tight spot , at a time when the national party wants to make a hard bargain with DMK which is offering only 30 seats to it.
TMC senior vice president B. Gnanadesikan did not rule out existence of TMC along with Congress in the same alliance. “We have come a long way from Congress. But, at this juncture, we cannot say if TMC will co-exist with Congress in the same alliance or not”.
Congress leaders are continuing their deliberations on the inclusion of TMC and the offer of 30 seats to the party with party vice-president Rahul Gandhi at New Delhi. State Congress leaders are waiting for a decision from the high command over the problems in seat-sharing talks between the two parties.
Besides the low offer of seats and problems in identification of constituencies, the DMK’s talk of bringing the TMC into the alliance has upset Congress leaders.
One of the eight members of the Congress panel for discussing seat sharing, S. Thirunavukkarasar on Wednesday indicated that the DMK is talking of including TMC.
Without naming TMC, he said “We have no objection to DMK bringing any party into the alliance. But, they should not cite it as a reason for reducing the Congress seats. Many people are running parties with the suffix Congress. But, the Congress led and guided by Nehru’s family is the real one”.
Admitting that DMK is trying to bring TMC into its fold, party spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan said, “If Congress has no objection in bringing TMC into the alliance, then we too see no obstacles. We are not a rival to TMC”.
He also added that senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad would meet
DMK leader M. Karunanidhi this week to continue discussions on seat-sharing arrangements.
DMK chief tries out Customised poll propaganda van
The 92-year-old DMK chief M. Karunanidhi began preparations for his 14TH Assembly election campaign with a test drive of the special vehicle designed for him with ultra-modern facilities.
Karunanidhi, who arrived at the party headquarters after meeting the new entrants to his party from the DMDK at his Gopalapuram residence, was moved into the vehicle with ease using a cushion chair fitted with wheels. The vehicle started its test drive to Mahabalipuram after Karunanidhi inspected some of the facilities.
Besides, the moving wheel-chair which could be fitted with the vehicle easily, it has air conditioners, television and tables for keeping newspapers and books. The vehicle has all the facilities of a living room at the rear side, while the leader could address the people sitting at the front portion of the vehicle.
The front portion of the vehicle is fitted with powerful LED lights so that Karunanidhi is visible to people outside. Besides the illuminating lights inside, the vehicle has similar lights on top to light the surroundings. There is no need to arrange for lighting at places where Karunanidhi stops his vehicle to address the gathering.
There are two cameras, one at the front and the other at the rear to monitor the surroundings and take pictures and videos. The vehicle has power generators to produce sufficient electricity for the loud speakers, lights, televisions, air-conditioners and other equipment.
The vehicle was re-designed at a factory in Coimbatore to suit the needs of Karunanidhi’s election campaign. After the test drive, it has been sent back for further modifications following instructions from Karunanidhi. Earlier, the vehicle was checked by party treasurer M.K. Stalin, who also saw the facilities inside the vehicle.
