Quit DMK tie-up, say most district Congress chiefs

Of the 57 district presidents (total 61) who took part in the meeting, 25 voted in favour of going it alone or rather without the DMK in the local body elections, a district president who took part in the meeting revealed to DTNext 

When Thirunavukkarasar hinted at posturing tough against ally DMK, Congress legislature party leader K R Ramasamy is understood to have ‘mildly’ seconded the view and advised his state boss to “do whichever best serves the party’s interest in any alliance.”

When a few district presidents drew the TNCC chief’s attention to the glaring differences between their and DMK leaders on CM’s health issue and the issue of appointing an interim CM, an agitated Thirunavukkarasar is learnt to have said, “Just because we are in an alliance, it does not mean that we have to tow their line for five years.” 

Thirunavukkarasar, it is learnt, also walked the extra mile to get party vice-president Rahul Gandhi to visit Apollo last week when the latter was unusually supportive of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Murmurs on Sathyamurthy Bhavan corridors also have it that the TNCC chief had met an influential member of the ruling dispensation before organising Rahul’s visit. 

If his maiden consultation with DCC presidents is to be believed, there might be a fresh seat sharing negotiation between DMK and Congress for the local body polls.

When asked, Thirunavukkarasar told DTNext, “I cannot share to the media what we discussed in our internal meeting, but, different opinions will be expressed in such meetings as men who do not get desired (number of) seats would be unhappy. Also, the seats were not fully finalised before the withdrawal date and hence we will discuss seat sharing with DMK afresh. No DCC president asked me today about difference in views between me and DMK leaders on CM’s health issue.