Learn from Bihar and unite, says Elangovan

With the RJD-JD (U) ‘Grand Alliance’ achieving a phenomenal victory in the Bihar Assembly polls, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president E.V.K.S. Elangovan on Monday said that political parties in the State should be willing to “give and take” to defeat communalism and corruption.

The appeal comes at a crucial juncture when the Left parties have formed the People’s Welfare Front (PWF) and the DMK is disinclined to go in for a coalition arrangement.

The PWF has declared that it would have no truck with the Congress and the BJP owing to their neo-liberal economic policies.

Asked about the recent remarks of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam treasurer M.K. Stalin that his party was not willing to commit on a coalition government as a condition for forging an alliance for the Assembly election, Mr. Elangovan told

The Hindu that there was no change in his earlier demand for a coalition arrangement.

The Congress would not be part of an electoral pact unless the major constituent in an alliance agreed to form a coalition government in the eventuality of a victory.

Too early

However, he said that it was too early to decisively state conditions since the Assembly elections were a good four months away.

“Mr. Stalin has stated his party’s position. It is only when we decide on whom to ally with and begin talks that these things could be sorted out. It is too early to say at the moment,” he contended.

The former Union Minister said the Bihar elections carried crucial messages to political parties in Tamil Nadu, including the Left.

Secular forces

“It is important that secular forces unite. Such a strategy is crucial to defeat both communalism and corruption,” he said disapproving of the Communist parties maintaining equidistance with the BJP and the Congress.

“The Congress would not be part of an electoral pact unless the major constituent in an alliance agreed to form a coalition government”