It was a meeting called to garner opinion of individual leaders on the development of the party. But Congress general secretary and in charge for Tamil Nadu Mukul Wasnik was hardly ready for the kind of inputs he got from TN Congressmen on Sunday when they expressed their displeasure over the high command’s alleged apathy to their sentiments.
Sources in the party told Express that Wasnik met former MPs and MLAs of the party, and current AICC member from TN, individually at Satyamurthy Bhavan on Sunday.
A majority of them, especially those who identified themselves as loyalists of Union ministers G K Vasan and P Chidambaram, expressed displeasure over the recent decision of the party to support DMK candidate Kanimozhi for the Rajya Sabha polls.
A former MLA told Express that he urged Wasnik to show more respect to the sentiments of the TNCC, a overwhelming majority of which wanted the party to support the DMDK. “We told him that the cadre was highly demotivated by the recent decision. He noted down our inputs systematically,” said the functionary.
Another leader, who met Wasnik, said he communicated a general feeling within a section of the party that more sops have to be provided for Tamil Nadu to strengthen Congress’ case.
“He was also told that efforts to placate the DMDK should be initiated as there was no certainty of the DMK’s support for the Lok Sabha polls,” said the leader.
Like always, sources said the leaders of different factions traded charges against each other, some even calling for a change in the State leadership.
A minor tussle also broke out between supporters of a former MLA and another functionary. It ended only after TNCC president B S Gnanadesikan’s intervention.