Chidambarams begin flexing muscles
Karti reiterates need for single strong leader to steer Tamil Nadu Congress
By : k. karthikeyan
Update: 2014-11-25 08:30 GMT
Chennai: The Chidambarams have stated their intentions in crystal-clear fashion. The former Union finance minister and his politically ambitious AICC member son want to be the poster boys of the TNCC, even if it means making controversial statements, like the one about the ‘2G licence’ against former PM Manmohan Singh, much to 10 Janpath’s embarrassment.
The Harvard-bred economist’s remark about ‘non-Gandhi leadership’ and son Karti’s comment about the Kamarajar legacy were not suggestions, casually made to lift the cadres’ spirits or pour contempt on the exit of G.K.Vasan. Father and son are addressing rallies only in the state, which they did not do in the past.
Mr P. Chidambaram made his presence felt at all recent party rallies in the state while abstaining from New Delhi, which is in itself an indicator of the duo nurturing bigger hopes and expressing disapproval of the designs of the Gandhis, who overlooked a PC nominee and appointed Elangovan president of the TNCC. Unsurprisingly, very few in the state Congress dispute this.
“They, Karti, particularly, who had been fighting Vasan tooth and nail, feel compelled to stay belligerent and make noise louder than before. It is a Catch-22 situation for them, considering that the AICC had also kept a tab on them by appointing E.V.K.S. Elangovan and giving him a free hand,” a senior Congressman remarked
A non-committal former parliamentary standing committee chairman Sudarshana Natchiappan said, “It is triangular now with Vasan, Chidambaram and Elangovan issuing statements. It will boil down in a month. A new-look Congress will be seen from February,” he added.
Karti Chidambaram, who whipped up a storm by making the controversial Kamarajar remark, did not mind emphasising his earlier comment about a single strong leader steering the course of the TNCongress.
He told DC, “It will be a natural evolutionary process within Tamil Nadu Congress. I do not know who it is or who it will be. But it should happen naturally.”
Refusing to accept that the AICC had overlooked his father for the Nehru anniversary fete, Karti Chidambaram shot back, “Many other leaders were also not invited. My father is ready to address any number of meetings. Gnanadesikan did not organise them. That is the difference.”