Squabbles erupt in TNCC, ex-presidents petition Sonia

A fortnight after the Gandhi scion approved the appointment of 72 district Congress committee (DCC) presidents, around 10 former district bosses, who have been shown the door in the latest organisation rejig done at the behest of TNCC chief Su Thirunavukkarasar, had petitioned party president Sonia Gandhi and party in-charge Mukul Wasnik. 

The erstwhile DCC chiefs, who are loyalists of former TNCC chief EVKS Elangovan, were understood to have complained about the shady background of a few newly appointed DCC chiefs, which include alleged smugglers and murder accused. 

Notably, what the plaintiffs had overlooked was that one of the questionable DCC president choices also includes their camp member, who was once accused of smuggling red sanders. As much as the complaint, the timing of it has also raised a few eyebrows in the TNCC circles given that the same Rahul Gandhi had issued a stern warning to cooperate with the state party president and fall in line or face action. 

A senior Congress leader who confirmed the meeting between the disgruntled elements and the party national bosses last week said that nothing was permanent with Rahul Gandhi.  

“Unlike Sonia Gandhi, who stand by her loyalists, Rahul will not make compromises. If he senses mischief, he will not hesitate to axe people, even if it means die hard loyalists,” remarked a TNCC senior cadre requesting anonymity. 

However, the complaint, sources say, was unlikely to trigger any action immediately as the high command was engrossed in Presidential elections and mopping up anti-BJP parties support to its candidate and former Parliament Speaker Meira Kumar. 

Meanwhile, Thirunavukkarasar, Congress legislature party leader K R Ramasamy and big shots from Puducherry Pradesh Congress Committee went in to a huddle here in the city to confirm no cross voting among the party legislators in the Presidential polls. The state Congress has already gone gung ho over the ally DMK expressing solidarity with it in the race to Raisina Hill.