Congress leaders clash over Rahul Gandhi's role in TVK alliance talks

Former TNCC president Selvaperunthagai and Rajya Sabha member Praveen Chakravarty trade barbs

A public disagreement has erupted between two Congress leaders over the party's participation in the TVK-led alliance, with the dispute centering on whether alliance partners should acknowledge Rahul Gandhi as a Prime Ministerial candidate.

Selvaperunthagai questions alliance terms

Former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K. Selvaperunthagai told a press meet that the Congress party should be in an alliance with a party that accepts party leader Rahul Gandhi as the next Prime Ministerial candidate. "The alliance partners should accept that Rahul Gandhi is the Prime Ministerial candidate. If they don't, why should we be in the [TVK-led] alliance?" he asked.

Chakravarty dismisses concerns

Responding to Mr. Selvaperunthagai's remarks, Congress Rajya Sabha member Praveen Chakravarty questioned his standing, asking reporters at the airport, "Who is he [Mr. Selvaperunthagai] today? He could have been anyone in the past". Stating that there was no confusion, he further added, "Even recently, when we got together for a meeting to decide on the name for the alliance [headed by TVK], which I had attended, we were talking and laughing with each other…Chief Minister [C Joseph Vijay] was also there". "The alliance is strong. There are no issues," he said.

War of words escalates

Later in the evening, Mr. Selvaperunthagai criticised Mr. Chakravarty in a statement for his comments and charged that he was exhibiting his "elitist mindset". "I said why do we need an alliance with a party that doesn't accept our leader Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate. But, this intellectual says that Chief Minister was smiling and talking to him when they met. Is that the reason for continuing in the alliance?" he said.

He challenged, "Chief Minister can state openly that Rahul Gandhi is the PM candidate just once". Mr. Selvaperunthagai also added, "Please ask the Chief Minister why comments critical of PM Modi, Amit Shah and BJP are being removed from the Assembly records".

Source: The Hindu