Elangovan keen to contest LS polls; optimistic of Congress victory

Erode: Amid reports that senior party leaders were said to be reluctant to face polls fearing defeat, senior Congress leader from Tamil Nadu and former Union Minister E V K S Elangovan on Tuesday said he has staked his claim for Tirupur Lok Sabha seat and asserted his party would fare well.

The former TNCC President, a native of Erode, said he had already made a representation to AICC President Sonia Gandhi to allocate neighbouring Tirupur constituency to him and expressed hope he would emerge victorious.

Former Union Minister K V Thangkabalu and Shipping Minister G K Vasan, both former PCC presidents from the state, have opted out of the poll race after the Congress was isolated in the state with no one willing to get into an alliance with it, leaving it with the prospect of contesting all 39 seats on its own.

Putting up a brave front, Elangovan told reporters here that there was no Narendra "Modi wave" in the state and claimed Congress would win all seats.

"There is absolutely no Modi wave especially in Tamil Nadu... it is only Modi dust storm. So there is bright chances for the Congress to win in all places in Tamil Nadu," he said dismissing talk of growing support for BJP's Prime Ministerial nominee.

Elangovan also said he had requested Gandhi to address an election meeting in Tirupur.

On the rainbow alliance being formed by BJP in the state with parties like DMDK, MDMK and PMK, he claimed they did not command influence among the voters.

He strongly condemned Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for her remarks that Congress had betrayed people of the state.

Accusing DMK of having betrayed Congress after being an ally since 2004, he said its chief M Karunanidhi had no power now in the DMK and had become "a puppet" in the party.