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Temporary truce in Congress

By Our Special Correspondent

Chennai June 30. Signalling a temporary ceasefire in the factional war in State Congress, the rebel camp led by AICC secretary, G. K. Vasan, has agreed to participate in the second round of the coordination committee meeting to discuss preparations for Kamaraj birth centenary celebrations.

Mr. Vasan and his supporters, who boycotted the first round of the meeting, convened last week by the AICC general secretary, Kamal Nath, would participate in the July 3 session, the State Congress president, S. Balakrishnan, told reporters here. He said the differences within the party had been ironed out and all Congressmen would with the utmost sense of unity celebrate Kamaraj birth centenary at Virudhunagar on July 15.

The truce follows Mr. Vasan's discussions with the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, in New Delhi two days ago.

As a first step towards rapprochement, a few key Vasan loyalists, including the former Minister, Danushkodi Adityan, and the MLA, K. Paramalai, this morning came to the Sathyamurthy Bhavan and held discussions with Mr. Balakrishnan and the TNCC working president, E. V. K. S. Elangovan.

Interestingly, Mr. Vasan and his supporters had vociferously demanded the ouster of Mr. Balakrishnan and Mr. Elangovan and kept off last week's meeting.

Meanwhile, Mr. Balakrishnan has sent letters to all members of the coordination committee to attend Thursday's meeting being held ``under his leadership". Interestingly, neither Mr. Kamal Nath nor the AICC secretary, Satyajit Gaekwad, is expected to participate in the discussions.

The TNCC president, in a bid to check threats and counter-threats by the rival factions, has also directed two Vasan supporters, who abused and threatened to attack the former MP, Peter Alphonse, at the Sathyamurthy Bhavan last Saturday, to tender an unconditional apology by tomorrow.

If Kathiravan and Mahalingam failed to apologise for their ``indecent behaviour'', disciplinary action would be initiated against them, he said.

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