Congress is sinking ship, says BJP, we are gearing up to sail: TNCC

Chennai: There is an interesting repartee between the BJP and the Congress over whose party has become a 'a sinking ship,' as the nation would face the LS polls next year.

The leaders of both the national parties are indulging in a slugfest likening the other to a sinking ship. "It is the BJP that is sinking in the sea while the Congress is getting geared up to sail on the sea," TNCC chief Su. Thirunavukkarasar who had been former Union minister in the NDA, said. He quit the saffron party and joined the Congress in 2009.

"Those who travelled with the BJP are now deserting the ship called BJP. This includes its allies the TDP and Shiv Sena who had boarded it without bestowing much thought. They are now jumping from it. So, this sinking ship is looking at the vessel (Congress) that has hoisted its sails and gearing up to set out into the sea and making the remark," Mr Thirunavukkarasar said.

On Sunday describing the Congress as a "sinking ship" Dr Tamilisai said anybody aligning with it is likely to go down. She also wondered if DMK would continue its ties with the Congress.

 "The Congress is a sin-king ship any party that has alliance with it is likely to sink along with it. Also, it is doubtful if the DMK will continue its ties with the Congress," she said referring to actor Kamal Haasan's intent to have truck with the Congress provided it snaps ties with the DMK.

 #MeToo gave new hope for women:  Averring that the #MeToo movement gave a new hope to women, Dr Tamilisai said those who approached women presuming them to be karumbu (sugarcane) are now finding them turn into irumbu (iron), thanks to #MeToo movement.

 Distancing herself from her party senior and Union minister of state for finance and shipping Pon Radhakrishnan who had claimed the #MeToo movement was started by "people with perverted minds" she replied "I think this is his personal opinion and does not reflect that of the party." Party's national chief Amit Shah had assured to enquire into the sexual allegations against M. J. Akbar who had stepped down as Union Minister. Even the party is of the opinion that women should be protected. "It (Mr Radhakrishnan's view) reflects neither the view of the government nor the party," she said.

No one accepts Rahul as PM candidate:  Training her guns on the Congress again she said the people and the Congress allies, as well, were not willing to accept Congress president Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2019 LS polls.

"Rahul Gandhi lacks the mass appeal and is not a match for Prime Minister Narendra Modi... people will not accept him as Prime Minister," she said.