EVKS’ seat demand sparks confusion in Congress camp

Just when the cadre thought everything has fallen in place, a fresh storm has brewed in the state party unit, thanks to former state Congress president EVKS Elangovan who has thrown in the hat yet again at the nick of time. 

Elangovan was understood to have mounted pressure on the AICC to at least allot a seat to him. EVKS has disturbed peace by demanding Krishnagiri seat, which was originally reserved for Chellakumar, one of the favourites of the party national president Rahul Gandhi. 

Sources privy to the negotiations said that the former TNCC chief has persuaded his contacts in New Delhi to allot Krishnagiri or Virudhunagar seat. The leader was learnt to have reasoned that he could contest in Virudhunagar in the event of the high command unwilling to disturb one of the blue eyed boys of Rahul. 

Curiously, Elangovan’s interest in Virudhunagar has come to affect the prospects of Karti Chidambaram in Sivaganga. 

A few leaders in the know said that Manick Tagore, considered the front runner  for Virudhunagar, was not averse to shifting to Sivaganga in the event of Elangovan managing to get Virudhunagar, which was a difficult proposition till Tuesday evening. 

Unsurprisingly, former Rajya Sabha MP Sudarshana Natchiappan has offered to put his weight behind Manick Tagore for Sivaganga, only to play spoilsport for Chidambaram junior. 

If sources were to be believed,senior Chidambaram could prevail over and get the native seat for his son and scuttle the chances of a firebrand Elangovan  derailing the electoral journey of his son Karti.