Cornered EVKS Elangovan resigns

Chennai: Firebrand TNCC president  E. V. K. S. Elangovan has submitted his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi after AICC expressed “strong displeasure” over the party’s dismal performance in the May 16 Assembly elections and blamed him and his team for the defeat at the hustings.

Top brass of the Congress, especially party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, is “quite upset” with the party securing just eight out of 41 seats it contested against its senior ally DMK’s strike rate of 89 of 176 seats it faced in the elections. They had pinned the blame entirely on Elangovan, who was given a free hand in selection of candidates and evolving a strategy for  party’s election campaign without any interference from AICC.

Rahul Gandhi spoke his mind to Elangovan during a meeting on June 14, before he left on a short foreign trip. Since Elangovan felt the unease that was visible during the meeting, he faxed his resignation letter to Sonia Gandhi the very next day. The high command is expected to accept Elangovan’s resignation after Rahul Gandhi returns from his foreign trip on June 26.

Highly-placed sources said Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and other senior leaders felt that Elangovan should be relieved of the post since he did not perform well as captain of the ship despite the AICC putting all its weight and also despite serious complaints against him by senior Congress leaders including ex- finance minister P. Chidambaram.  

Mr Elangovan was given a free hand in candidate selection. The high command gave all powers to Elangovan by antagonising senior leaders who were just not happy with the AICC decision of leaving everything to Mr Elangovan,” a senior leader  told DC.