CHENNAI/NEW DELHI, Nov 3:
The already enfeebled Congress today suffered a split in Tamil Nadu with one of its top leaders G K Vasan quitting the party and planning to start a new outfit.
Hitting back, the Congress leadership expelled him from the party for his inappropriate comments against it.
Angry over the way the Congress leadership handled the affairs of the State unit and allegedly ignored the merit of leaders, Vasan, son of late Congress leader late G K Moopanar, said he was quitting the party and would soon float a new party.
“We have taken this decision after getting the feedback of lakhs of Congress cadres in Tamil Nadu and also leaders of Congress party in Tamil Nadu. We have sent in our resignations,” he announced at a press conference here.
The development marks a full circle 18 years after his father broke from the Congress and formed the Tamil Maanila Congress which tied up with the DMK to sweep the Assembly and Parliament elections in 1996. Later the party merged with Congress in 2002.
Avoiding any criticism of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Rahul Gandhi, Vasan squarely blamed others entrusted with party affairs in the State. The approach of AICC in Tamil Nadu was not satisfactory in achieving its goal of bringing party rule in Tamil Nadu, he said.
Reacting to Vasan’s decision and his attack on the leadership, Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar announced his expulsion from the party. He said the party took the decision on the basis of inappropriate comments he made about it and the leadership.
Vasan, however, did not refer to Mukul Wasnik, in-charge of Tamil Nadu, and former Union Minister P Chidambaram, with whom he had differences on party affairs.
“We want to lead, be the number one regional party and an alternative political party to Tamil Nadu people and we feel we can fulfil the vision of the late Kamaraj. We are going in the right direction,” he said highlighting the principles of the new party.
Defending his decision to severe his 12-year-long association with Congress, which was anticipated after he had dropped ample hints to this effect last week, Vasan said, “We are on a new path. Youth in Tamil Nadu are looking for a new political culture. We are confident of fulfilling it”.(PTI)
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