Mahila Congress functionaries come to blows after row over party post
Name calling, saree pulling, chain snatching and even teeth knocking, you name it, an otherwise boredom-shrouded Sathyamurthy Bhavan saw it all as the party women’s wing leaders and their spouses exchanged blows, overshadowing the launch of state Congress president Su Thirunavukkarasar’s membership drive here on Wednesday.
By : migrator
Update: 2017-06-07 19:19 GMT
Chennai
The Bhavan retained its long-forgotten war tradition, courtesy All India Mahila Congress secretary Haseena Sayeed and the Tamil Nadu president of the wing Jhansi Rani who quarrelled over the sacking of a district Mahila Congress president close to the latter.
Excitement quotient improved at the Congress headquarters moments after Thirunavukkarasar retired to his room after briefing media persons about the membership drive when former Tiruvallur district Congress president Gowri Gopal allegedly accosted Haseena and hit her from behind after the former prodded Gowri over her recent sacking in the concourse area.
Jhansi Rani, who attempted to intervene, only contributed to the melee after Haseena’s spouse entered the hall and roughed up Gowri Gopal. Video grabs shot by enthusiastic party onlookers showed both sides flexing their muscle against each other.
Soon, bystanders threw their hat into the ring and joined the women in chasing away Sayeed and his wife from there by force. When contacted, Haseena said, “I was caught unawares when Gowri hit me from behind. I tried to resist. Soon, Jhansi joined her and pulled my thaali, which snapped. It was only after that I summoned my husband for help.”
Asked if she prodded Gowri over her sacking, she said, “I am a national secretary. Am I not eligible to have a president in my home district. Tiruvallur south district mahila Congress president was reinstated along with nine others in Tamil Nadu. If she had issues with me on that, she should have taken it up with the high command. Assaulting me is not a fair practice. I have complained to our national president,” adding that she would tow the party line and not prefer a police complaint.
While attempts to reach Jhansi or Gowri proved futile, Thirunavukkarasar dismissed it as petty personal quarrel between two women and told DTNext that he had sought a report from both women. “I will send a report of the incident after receiving written statements from both parties,” he added.
TNCC begins enrolment drive
It was incumbent TNCC president Su Thirunavukkarasar’s turn on Wednesday as the party saw its third membership drive being launched in the decade.
Thirunavukkarasar has advised party men to follow the briefing of their national vice president Rahul Gandhi, who had given them an ultimatum to strengthen the party unmindful of alliance compulsions. Though no target has been set for the month-long membership drive, Thirunavukkarasar was hopeful that it would be a success. Conceding that similar drives had failed during the tenure of immediate past presidents EVKS Elangovan and K V Thangkabalu, the incumbent president said the reception was good on the inaugural day. However, he denied setting any target. The past special drives had only ended up with the leaders making tall claims, as did Thangkabalu who claimed to have enrolled 15 lakh cadre during the special drive conducted during his tenure.
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