AICC leaders hold talks with TNCC delegation on poll alliance in State

As the chorus from a section of the Congress demanding a pre-poll agreement with the DMK for a share in power in Tamil Nadu increased, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and K.C. Venugopal, on Saturday met leaders of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) and the Puducherry unit in New Delhi and elicited their opinions.

The All India Congress Committee (AICC) leaders individually listened to the views expressed by the party’s MLAs and MPs from Tamil Nadu, but did not announce any decision. The party high command will take a final call.

Talking to reporters in New Delhi after the meeting, Mr. Venugopal, the party general secretary, said the high command listened to the views of the leaders individually and discussed ways for strengthening the party in Tamil Nadu.

“The party unanimously endorsed the AICC president and the leader of the Opposition (Rahul Gandhi) to take a decision. With regard to the election, the high command will take an appropriate decision in due course in the interest of the ideology of the party and the people of Tamil Nadu,” he said.

Besides, he said, the high command had issued a clear direction to senior leaders to maintain discipline and avoid making statements on social media on the alliance. “They have to speak in one voice,” he said.

A leader who attended the meeting said he wanted the high command to convey to the DMK leaders to “respect the sentiments of the Congress members in the State and their demand for more seats and a share in power”.

“But there is no change in the Congress party’s decision to go along with the DMK in the Assembly election,” said a leader who attended the meeting.

A total of 42 leaders, including MPs, MLAs and former TNCC presidents and secretaries, attended the meeting.

Another leader said though the Congress was pressing for a share in power, none of its leaders had openly talked about breaking the alliance with the DMK. “A section feels that the party could contest from more seats if it enters into an alliance with actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam,” she said.

Party sources said the DMK leadership was not in favour of sharing power with the alliance partners and it had conveyed its decision, through former Union Minister and DMK MP A. Raja, to Mr. Gandhi during his recent visit to Gudalur.