Cong struggling to name its nine candidates

The state and national leadership appear not to be on the same page on candidate selection. State Congress chief K S Alagiri and Congress legislature party leader KR Ramasamy, who have camped in New Delhi were learnt to have taken to warpath with national general secretary KC Venugopal on list preparation in a meeting organised there on Wednesday.

“Venugopal had insisted that the state delegation submit its list of nine candidates. But, both Alagiri and Ramasamy were adamant that they would only give a tentative list of three names each for the nine constituencies and the leadership could finalize the candidates. The meeting ended abruptly after the TNCC delegation refused to oblige Venugopal,” a senior TNCC source revealed. Alagiri and Ramasamy could not propose the nine names, for they did not want to overlook Elangovan and face the wrath of left out candidates back home, the source said, adding the deadlock could be breached on Friday when the next round of discussion on candidate selection would be held.

Former TNCC president EVKS Elangovan and his supporter Khushbu Sundar contributed to the confusion by making a strong push for Krishnagiri and Karur constituencies. Even as cadre thought unveiling the candidate list was a mere formality, fresh bids for seats complicated things in TNCC with Elangovan disturbing the chances of Chellakumar. Khushbu, who was the latest to join the race, has made the moves for Karur, which was cherrypicked by the AICC for former YC leader Jothimani, one of the few leaders who has round the clock access to Rahul’s office. Now, the high command is in a spot over engaging one former TNCC chief and snubbing another. Prominent leader Adaikalaraj’s son Louis has attempted to fish in the troubled waters by bidding for Tiruchy after the AICC developed a second thought on giving Tiruchy to Thirunavukkarasar after declining a seat to Elangovan.

“If AICC denies ticket to Elangovan on the ground that the seat he had sought (Erode) was lost to ally MDMK, how can it oblige Thirunavukkarasar by giving him Tiruchy?” wondered a state Congress senior. Meanwhile, Manick Tagore and former MP SudarshanaNatchiappan have renewed their interest in Chidambaram’s home turf Sivanganga. A top-level source said the party would apparently take some difficult decision and announce candidates, snubbing Elangovan and obliging Thirunavukkarasar. Karti, Jothimani and Chellakumar could have the last laugh.