CHENNAI: The newly-appointed State Congress chief Su Thirunavukkarasar’s strategic move to take the party away from the long-time ally, DMK, seems to have failed to garner the support from a majority of district presidents, with about half of them opposing the idea during a meeting he chaired in Chennai on Wednesday.
When their views on realignment were sought, half the number of district presidents opposed the shift, said sources adding that a few of the influential State-level leaders, too, voiced their concern over a change of platform to contest the civic body polls, for which the party had half-heartedly reached an understanding with the alliance leader, DMK.
“When Thirunavukkarasar sought our views on snapping ties with DMK, half of the district presidents replied in the negative,” a party leader who attended the meet told Express.Though many district presidents accused the DMK of adopting a big brother approach while sharing seats in the urban civic bodies, some others reported having ‘cordial talks’ with the district secretaries of the Dravidian party and pitched for continuation of the current alliance, he added.
Armed with the support of party’s vice-president Rahul Gandhi, the TNCC head is trying to take new initiatives to infuse fresh blood. Since the Apollo Hospitals visit of Rahul Gandhi, Thirunavukkarasar had been airing contrary views much to the chagrin of DMK leaders.
However, addressing the media after the meeting, he said his party would continue talking to DMK over seat-sharing once the fresh dates for the civic polls are announced.“A few said the seat-sharing ended in a cordial manner, while some others felt quite the opposite. When the fresh dates are announced, we will hold further talks,” he said.
Yet, Thirunavukkarasar said there was no truck with DMK as far as village panchayats were concerned and appealed to his party men to contest in all such rural civic bodies.Six resolutions, including one on observing a one-day fast in Tiruchy on October 15 condemning the Centre for its alleged stand against forming the Cauvery Management Board, were adopted by the meeting.Another resolution sought the Karnataka and Central governments to pay due compensation to the families of Tamils who were attacked during the recent violence in the neighbouring State over the Cauvery water issue.