With just two days left for the Rajya Sabha polls, the Congress on Monday sustained the suspense over whom the party MLAs would support in the contest between the DMK and DMDK.
State Congress leaders told Express that TNCC president B S Gnanadesikan camped in New Delhi and met Mukhul Wasnik, the general secretary in charge of Tamil Nadu over the issue. This was followed by a meeting between Wasnik, Gulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel, the political advisor to Sonia Gandhi.
While there was every possibility that a decision had been taken in this meeting and sent to Sonia Gandhi for approval, sources said it was likely to be communicated to the Tamil Nadu Congress only on Tuesday.
Significantly, it is learnt that Gnanadesikan has also called for a meeting of all five MLAs of the party in Chennai on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, sources confirmed with Express that following parleys, held a few days ago, the Congress was inclined to back DMDK. However, the scenario changed following meetings between DMK leader T R Balu and a few top leaders of the Congress.
Also, sources indicated that a Congress Union Minister from Tamil Nadu had been vehemently canvassing for the DMK in the last few days. The fact that DMDK had no face in New Delhi to hold talks has made a huge difference in the bargaining. However, a senior leader said the emotions in the ranks of the Tamil Nadu Congress was with the DMDK.
“We have told the high command that supporting DMDK could pave the way for a new front in the State. Given that the Congress was being alienated here, we could get a guaranteed partner. But with DMK, we cannot expect an alliance for the Lok Sabha polls,” said the senior leader.
Despite this, on Friday, the high command had asked for a report elaborating pros and cons of aligning with either parties, indicating that the post-Lok Sabha scenario was heavily weighing in their minds.