CHENNAI: Old Congressmen don’t trust Khushbu, the South Indian actress who joined the party via the DMK. But in a state where movei stars weild political clout, she remains the sole crowdpuller for the Congress, attempting a revivial in the state. Yet, Khushbu, who shouldered the party’s campaign in the May assembly polls is off the public eye ever since the change of guard at the TNCC early last month, obscured in the new dispensation with Rahul’ Gandhi’s handpicked man at the helm.
With a view to revive the party and stem the organisational rot after its disastrous performance in the assembly elections, Rahul chose Su Thirunavukkarasar to lead the state unit. An AIADMK veteran since the days of MGR, known for his organisational skills and well versed with the Dravidian political dynamics, he is a new comer to the Congress. During his brief stint in the BJP, he was a minister in the Vajpayee ministry. His predecessor, the acerbic EVKS Elangovan, could not carry along the various factions.
Indeed, it was the ‘enfant terrible, Elangovan, who brought Kushbu into the Congress fold six months after she deserted the DMK in June 2014. She was seen as a welcome induction in the wake of the vertical split caused by the exit of former Union Minister G K Vasan. When she took to task Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram for playing divisive poltiics, Elangovan supported her to the hilt.
Now, Thirunavukkarasar’s has to deliver. But, he has failed so far in his very first test of securing a dignified number seats from the party’s ally, DMK, for the local body elections. The real test for him would be ensuring the cooperation of all the factions, out to pull the rug under him. For, the dynamics in the Congress is not the same as in the Dravidian majors, AIADMK and DMK.
Given the party’s current predicament, Khushbu’s absence has raised quire a few eyebrows. Though out of the limelight in the party,Kushbu put up a brave face saying, “Now, I am in Australia on a work. I left Chennai for Singapore on September 9. I will return possibly on either October 16 or 17.”Congress workers are, however, hopefull that she would be available for the civic elections as and when they are held. But, will she get the same prominence in the unfolding Rahul plan of revitalising the moribund party?Wait and see, say observers.