With the old guard taking up the gauntlet, the going gets tough for TNCC president EVKS Elangovan, roped in to manage the Congress in the state after the vertical split by former Union minister G K Vasan. Soon after taking over the reins, Elangovan despite bringing the much-needed visibility to the party had antagonised the veterans, now ranged against him. The meteoric rise of actor-turned politician Kushbu and her teaming up with Elangovan had only added fuel to the fire. The power struggle witnessed the incumbent and his predecessor, former Union minister K V Thangkabalu, washing dirty linen in public with sulking leaders, including former Union minister P Chidambaram, former MP K S Alagiri and former TNCC chief Kumari Ananthan carrying the banner of revolt.
Facing flak for the erosion of the party’s support base in his home turf Sivaganga and smarting under the snub to his son Karti, Chidambaram closed ranks with the detractors of Elangovan. When he himself is considered as nothing more than a leader with feet of clay, it is no wonder that his attempt to build a base for Karti had come a cropper. Elangovan issued a show-cause notice to Karti for holding meetings without approval, causing consternation in the rival camps. All except Chidambaram camped in the national capital to press the high command to remove Elangovan.
Rattled at upsetting the applecart months ahead of the 2016 Assembly polls, the high command bought peace by backing Elangovan with a warning to his detractors. When every party is preparing for the polls, the Congress, fighting for its survival, is pulling in different directions,unable to set its house in order.
