No merger plans with BJP, claims TMC functionary

Grapevine has it that Vasan was approached by the BJP to merge his TMC with them. The party in power at the Centre was told to have offered a Rajya Sabha nomination plus the leadership of the state party unit in return for the merger.

Going by murmurs in the political corridor, the proposal was considered by the saffron brigade, thanks to positive feedback from an erstwhile Indian National Congress heavyweight who held a constitutional post till a while ago. Clean image during his ministership and non-controversial background in the state were the credentials that had impressed the ruling party at the Centre.

Vasan’s weekly visits to the national capital during the last month had fuelled the rumours doing the rounds since the recently concluded Parliamentary elections. TNCC president KS Alagiri had contributed to the unrest in TMC by appealing to the cadre of the breakaway faction to return to the parent party headed by him in the state. However, Vasan who was among the allies who had proposed Narendra Modi as Prime Minister has not given the alleged proposal a serious thought.

When asked, secretary of youth wing of Tamil Maanila Congress M Yuvaraj said, “It is a malicious campaign of the state Congress. TMC does not have to merge with or become a frontal organisation of any party. Congress has managed to win eight MP seats with DMK help now. They are badly trying to woo cadre to convince DMK to get more seats. Hence, they are spreading such falsehood.”

“Our leader had visited Delhi to propose Modi for PM, to attend dinner meet and later the swearing in ceremony. Congress has become a frontal organisation of the DMK. Alagiri is trying to lure our cadre to somehow convince DMK to improve its bargaining position in the ensuing local body elections,” Yuvaraj remarked, ruling out any merger with any party.