TNCC leaders skip Cauvery issue in Karnataka campaign

Thirunavukkarasar on Wednesday campaigned from an open jeep for party candidate Priya Krishna in Govindarajapuram constituency. The TNCC chief had only made a brief stop at his residence in the city before leaving for Bengaluru from the DMK headquarters where the Opposition parties fired salvos at the BJP in Centre and Congress government in Karnataka in no uncertain terms. Congress whip S Vijayadharani, who preempted her party chief in Karnataka polls had campaigned at Chamrajpet in Bengaluru on Tuesday.

The TNCC leaders camping in the neighbouring state have been conveniently sidestepping the Cauvery issue. Even a few daring ones making a passing reference to the vexed water dispute either take cover behind the Supreme Court or gladly blame the ruling BJP at the Centre for feigning concern in Karnataka. Sources said that Thirunavukkarasar might also utilise the campaign to warm up to the high command and cement his position in TNCC, which, even his own functionaries privately claim, was under threat.

It may be worth noting that Thirunavukkarasar, who had met Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi recently, announced that Rahul would tour Tamil Nadu after Karnataka Assembly elections.

Rumours abound in the state Congress that Rahul could use the proposed tour to TN to better the ties with the DMK, which has been playing hard ball with the Congress ever since leaders like Mamata Banerjee and K Chandrasekhar Rao warmed up to it. The national party responded to a belligerent DMK by getting VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan to visit Rahul Gandhi in turn.