Race hots up in TNCC as Elangovan quits chief post

Chennai

Popular among them are former Union Ministers Su. Thirunavukkarasar, Sudarshana Natchiappan, former MP, Manicka Tagore, AICC secretary Dr A Chellakumar and former Chennai deputy mayor Karate Thiyagarajan.

The race began after news spread about incumbent state Congress chief EVKS Elangovan tendering his resignation to the party high command last week.

Though sources close to Elangovan maintained that he had owed moral responsibility for the poll debacle and resigned on his own, rival camps claim that the high command had asked him to quit. “Rahul Gandhi was unhappy with the party only winning eight of the 41 seats in the Assembly polls. The vice president personally expressed his displeasure at Elangovan not doing well in the Assembly election and hence the resignation,” said a Elangovan confidante, adding that the high command would decide on the resignation after Rahul’s return to India. However, a few other party sources said that
Rahul had admonished EVKS when the latter met him in Delhi on June 14 and the ouster happened at Rahul’s behest.

“Elangovan left for Delhi from Nagercoil upon receiving summons from RG’s office. Prior to the resignation, he (Elangovan) attempted to meet party president Sonia, but his attempts failed. Even party in charge of TNCC Mukul Wasnik was unaware of the resignation till it happened,” said a Chidambaram associate. That Wasnik was unaware of the resignation should come as no surprise if one looks five years back when B S Gnanadesikan was appointed an hour after the party in charge Ghulam Nabi Azad told at the city airport that K V Thangkabalu would continue.

Before one decides on the veracity of their claims, it has to be admitted that the meeting with young Gandhi was not something Elangovan would want to remember considering that the same EVKS loyalists rubbished reports about his ouster a fortnight ago. His abstention from Sathyamurthy Bhavan for a few days after the rendezvous with RG only lent credence to the theories floated by scaremongers earlier.

DTNext has reliably learnt that chances of Elangovan reconsidering his decision are bleak as he has not taken lightly the stand of the AICC to squarely blame him for the poll debacle, more so after he had kept a ‘vertically split’ Congress alive and kicking and also helped build bridges with the same DMK that left the Congress to fend for itself in 2014, mainly after Vasan parted ways and revived TMC.

Contenders for the top post

A seasoned politician: Su. Thirunavukkarasar AICC secretary and ex-union minister’s native place is Aranthangi in Pudukkottai. Known for his cordial relations with all leaders. A seasoned politician,  but carries the blemish of having been in too many parties.

Good rapport with AICC: Sudarshana Natchiappan, ex-union minister and sitting member of Rajya Sabha from Sivagangai district. Enjoys good rapport with the inner circles of All India Congress Committee. His biggest disadvantage is lack of strength at the grassroot level.

Close to Gandhis’ family: A Chellakumar is former MLA. He was twice elected to the House, once from Anna Nagar in 1991 and another time from T Nagar in 1996. He was also former state YC president. His close association with Gandhis is well known in party.

Chidambaram supporter: Karate Thiyagarajan is the ex-Deputy Mayor of Chennai and south Chennai district Congress president. He contested unsuccessfully from Mylapore Assembly segment. Thiyagaranjan has the backing of P Chidambaram.