While many political observers dismissed TNCC chief B S Gnanadesikan getting a second term as an expected move given the clout of the G K Vasan faction in the state Congress, some within the party feel that his continuation was a reward from the high command for his adroit handling of the internal squabbles plaguing the state unit.
On Saturday, Congress president Sonia Gandhi reconstituted the TNCC and in the process, gave Gnanadesikan the reins yet again.
Ever since he took over as the TNCC chief in November 2011, the chaos-ridden Tamil Nadu unit has witnessed sustained calm.
Unlike in the past when factional wars spilled on to the open, sometimes even leading to physical confrontations, the last two years under Gnanadesikan has seen the party put up a united face at least in the public.
A senior leader, now an executive member, says re-appointing Gnanadesikan had a lot to do with his performance in the last two years.
“In times when Congress is being perceived as weak in the State, we cannot afford public spats between leaders. He has achieved what was thought impossible, by keeping things calm,” said the leader.
However, a few feel that Gnanadesikan has alone been strong enough to take his own positions in important matters and not toe Vasan in every step.
A newly-appointed general secretary said that in the sensitive Sri Lankan Tamils’ issue, Gnanadesikan more or less took an independent stance, which was directly opposed to that of Vasan.
“On the participation of the Prime Minister at CHOGM in Sri Lanka, he differed from Vasan and said India should go.
Even in matters of party administration, he has put his foot down on certain issues and has kept indiscipline under check,” the leader noted.
However, this second stint for Gnanadesikan could be his toughest as the various groups in party would start exerting pressure in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls.
“Ticket distribution will be a major issue. If he manages to do that smoothly, he will very well go down as one of the most capable administrators of the party in the last few decades,” said another leader, a former MLA.