G.K. Vasan unanimously elected

By S. Vydhianathan

CHENNAI, SEPT. 1. Mr. G.K. Govindavasan, hereafter to be known as G.K. Vasan, will soon don the mantle of the Tamil Maanila Congress.

The new president was unanimously elected at a meeting of the State office-bearers, PAC members, MPs, MLAs and presidents of various front organisations held at the party headquarters, Satyamurthi Bhavan, here.

Mr. S.R. Balasubramanian, legislature party leader, proposed the name of Mr. Vasan, which was approved by a thunderous ovation. Subsequently, they raised slogans in praise of Mr. Vasan who however, was not present at the meeting.

The transition from the late G.K. Moopanar to his son was smooth and there was no dissenting voice. The election would soon be intimated to Mr. Vasan, according to a senior leader. It was only a formality and `Thambi', as he is affectionately known among the circles, had to accept the responsibility and take over the reins, he added.

Though the election was unanimous, there was a view that the process must conform to laid down procedures. A few senior members felt that the general council alone had the authority to elect the new president. But the overwhelming opinion was that the council could ratify the election.

The meeting also adopted a resolution condoling the death of their leader and expressed the party's gratitude to those who attended the funeral and sent condolence messages. It thanked the State Government for giving Moopanar police honours.

Mr. S. Peter Alphonse and Mr. B.S. Gnanadesikan, MPs, Ms. Jayanthi Natarajan, former MP, MLAs, PAC members and district office-bearers were among those who attended the meeting.

Mr. Vasan, an executive member, was never in the forefront so far. Unlike as other political leaders, Moopanar never projected his son as his successor and scotched any move by the partymen whenever they wanted to give Mr. Vasan a party post. According to Moopanar, Mr. Vasan should work for a post and he should not be given any recognition just because he was his son.

Now the party's top post is being given to him as the second rung leaders said they were not ready to accept anyone else as their leader.

G. Srinivasan reports from Thanjavur:

Cadres and leaders of TMC in the erstwhile composite Thanjavur, home district of Moopanars welcomed the appointment of Mr. Vasan.

The mantle should naturally fall on him, said many of the leaders and workers.

Young members were jubilant and said that only the TMC now had the youngest leader. Next to Rajiv Gandhi, Mr. Vasan was the only person to shoulder the responsibility at a very young age, said a youth leader.

As the party believed in collective leadership even when Moopanar was alive, there might not be any problem for his son in leading the TMC, said a senior leader.

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