With E.V.K.S. Elangovan stepping down as president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), the race for the top post seems to be picking up speed.
Sources in the Congress indicated that the community of the aspirant could be a crucial determinant in appointing the new chief.
Unlike 2014 when Congress president Sonia Gandhi chose Mr. Elangovan for the top job after B.S. Gnanadesikan resigned and later moved out with the Tamil Maanila Congress, this time the decision is likely to be made by party vice-president Rahul Gandhi.
Former Union Ministers Sudarsana Natchiappan and Su. Thirunavukkarasar are considered to be the frontrunners given their seniority.
Another name doing the rounds is that of former Virudhunagar MP Manicka Tagore, who has a good equation with Mr. Gandhi since he emerged from the Youth Congress.
However, a senior TNCC leader said all three were from the Thevar community. “Already K.R. Ramasamy from the community has been named the chief of the Congress Legislative Party.
It has to be seen whether the top post in the TNCC would be allotted to a member of the same community,” the leader added.
Also in the race are AICC secretary A. Chellakumar and senior Dalit leader K. Jayakumar, both fiery orators.
“Mr. Gandhi is expected to return to India on Wednesday night. We are expecting the new TNCC president to be announced by the weekend,” sources added. Supporters of former Rajya Sabha MP Peter Alphonse, who quit the TMC and rejoined the Congress close to the Assembly elections, are also hoping that he may make it to the top post.
But the fact that he returned to the parent party only recently may work against him, claimed a source.
Meanwhile, TNCC vice president A.P.C.V. Shanmugam is learnt to have resigned from the post.
