THANJAVUR: "The late Congress leader G K Moopanar (GKM) belonged to the rare generation of politicians who were not after position or power. He had adopted the Gandhian way of life and led a simple life till the end. He was a troubleshooter for the Congress party and an organiser par excellence. A NehruGandhi loyalist, he had served the party with great courage even during the turbulent 80s," said Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, on the occasion of the unveiling of a lifesize bronze statue of G K Moopanar at Kumbakkonam on Saturday.
The function was organised by the district Congress Committee. Mukherjee said he had a 40year association with the late leader since the 1970s.
"Like the late K Kamaraj and the UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Moopanar also refused to be tempted by the bait of Primeministership. The three leaders won a place in the annals of history by refusing the post of Prime Minister," Mukherjee noted.
Recalling an incident in a politically charged late nineties, Mukherjee said due to the then political flux primeministership of the nation was offered to GKM on a platter, when the Congress was defeated and the nation was heading towards a coalition government. Not only Moopanar refused to accept the offer but also said, he was not after position or power and was contented with serving the party.
"I remember that I had been to personally persuade him to take up the post of Prime Minister during the period 199698 when the nation was headed for a coalition government. But he refused to yield, Mukherjee said and added it was a time when the CPM Politburo did not allow Jyothi Basu to take over the premiership and V P Singh was down with illness."
Though he was born in an affluent family, Moopanar could identify himself with the common man. He had served the party at various levels. He was duly elevated to the position of General Secretary in 1980 by the then Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi. He succeeded in ending factionalism and revamping the PCCs in various States. He believed in 'accommodation' and not in 'elimination'. The latter was his guiding principle," Mukherji said.
Presiding over the function, Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin said GKM was both a simple man and a hard thinker.