TNCC to discuss local body election issue today

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K S Alagiri has called for a meeting on Friday, June 21, to discuss the civic polls at party headquarters Sathyamurthy Bhavan.

AICC secretaries Sanjay Dutt and Srivalla Prasad, Congress legislature party leader in TN Assembly K R Ramasamy would also attend the meeting of working presidents, former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee presidents and state and district level office bearers.

However, the interest shown by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee leadership was not felt at the lower echelons of the party.

Party functionaries who confided their disinterest in private wondered why this hurry when the Dravidian majors were even silent on the issue.

Civic polls uncertain

“No one knows when the civic body polls would be held. The party in power might cite another excuse in August to defer it further. The ruling and principal opposition parties have not even contemplated on the local body polls. Why are we discussing it now?” argued a Tamil Nadu Congress Committee functionary requesting anonymity.

“Assuming our alliance with the DMK will continue, who is available at AICC helm to negotiate for extra seats with Anna Arivalayam. We are the mercy of DMK now,” a senior Tamil Nadu Congress Committee office bearer said, admitting that the DMK would not give even half of what they gave last time? If sources in the Congress were to be believed, realistic party insiders expect not even double digit councillor seats in Chennai Corporation.

“Unless the leadership finalizes seat percentage at the top level, it will be tough going for our cadres at the lower level,” the functionary remarked, suggesting that the DMK would apportion 15% and 30% respectively only in Sivaganga and Kanniyakumari respectively.

If the statement of Udhayanaidhi about seat allocation in a recent rally were something to go by, the fears of Congress functionaries cannot be dismissed as unfounded, for the DMK wants to retain lion’s share for its workers in any election now.