Consensus on Tamil Nadu chief eludes Congress top brass

Though Congressmen would have the party men in the state to believe that their vice president Rahul Gandhi who returned from his European trip on Sunday would announce the new TNCC chief this week, party sources said the high command is in a state of dilemma after candidates starting badmouthing about each other through their influential contacts in ‘10 Janpath’ in the last fortnight. 

Influential party sources revealed to DT Next that a Congress MLA who is vying with Rajya Sabha MP Sudarshana Natchiappan from Sivagangai, AICC secretary S Thirunavukkarasar and former youth Congress leader Dr Chellakumar to occupy Sathyamurthy Bhavan, had sent a dossier against Peter Alphonse, one of the front runners in the race.

The businessman-MLA is understood to have complained about the inflammatory speeches Peter had made during his stint in GK Moopanar’s TMC over a decade back.

Unsurprisingly, it did not take long to comprehend that infighting had left the AICC guessing. That EVKS Elangovan supports Peter’s candidacy sufficiently explains why Peter Alphonse has made enemies of late. 

“It is essential to go with the DMK in the ensuing civic poll. Failure in local body polls may take our popularity below Vasan’s TMC. 

Therefore, it is essential to be cordial with DMK, which would also prefer a person like Peter. An experienced Peter is disliked because he will easily overshadow his political rivals” a party senior requesting anonymity.

A member of Chidambaram faction says; “Whoever gets appointed TNCC chief should warm up to DMK. 

Surprisingly, an articulate had Peter found friends from unusual quarters this time. An influential DMK MP is understood to have proposed Peter’s name to Congress senior Ahmed Patel during an informal meeting recently. 

If one were to factor in the local rivalry in Sivangangai, Chidamabaram who enjoys some clout in AICC of late, would certainly block Natchiappan. 

If inexperience plays a deterrent for Manickam Thakur, Thirunavukkarasar’s relatively low popularity could spoil his chances. AICC would take a closer look at Chellakumar’s established pro-AIADMK stand as much as it does for Peter, who is known for his kitchen cabinet access in Gopalapuram. 

Add all, one would not blame the AICC for being clueless, and that too after doing too much a tad too shortly after the recent Assembly election failure.