With the two main Dravidian parties girding up their loins for the by-election to the Srirangam Assembly constituency scheduled for February 13, a section of the Congress cadre and office-bearers in the district have expressed the desire that the party too should enter the fray.
While the State unit of the national party is said to be awaiting a decision from the national leadership on contesting the election, a section of the party office-bearers and cadre here have expressed their desire to contest the by-poll to prove the strength of the party.
Workers’ meeting
The view was emphasised at a workers’ meeting of the Congress South District unit held here on Monday, said R.C.Babu, president of the unit.
“Although Srirangam has been an AIADMK stronghold in recent history, the Congress had held sway here prior to 1977.
The party’s strength may have gone unnoticed after we started going along with the Dravidian parties. We polled a substantial number of votes in the Srirangam segment even in the last Lok Sabha election when we contested alone. Hence we are in favour of entering the fray,” said Mr.Babu.
Many speakers at the meeting emphasised the need for the party to contest the by-election to prove its strength, Mr.Babu said and added that he had conveyed the view to the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president.
“The Congress should contest the by-election. We should explain the reasons for the decline of the party, and this could be done by contesting the by-poll,” said M.Saravanan of the south district unit.
A group of party men, led by Mr.Saravanan, has sent representations to party chief Sonia Gandhi asking her to field a candidate for the by-poll.
Representations sent to Sonia Gandhi
“Party must contest to prove strength”
By-election scheduled to be held on February 13
