The Congress is confident of making a comeback in Tamil Nadu in the 2016 Assembly elections, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president E.V.K.S. Elangovan said.
Leading a rally on Saturday aimed at highlighting the AIADMK government’s “rampant corruption,” he alleged that the Ministers continued to indulge in massive corruption across departments even after a Special Court disqualified their leader Jayalalithaa from holding elected office on charges of corruption.
Ahead of handing over a memorandum to the Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah, Mr. Elangovan told his party cadre gathered in Egmore: “I did not expect so many of you to turn up this afternoon. I am touched and feel confident of our party’s future. From now until the 2016 elections it is tremendous hard work every day.”
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His remarks come nearly five months after Former Union Minister G.K. Vasan quit the party to launch his own.
According to long-time members of the Congress, attempts to consolidate the party after Mr. Vasan’s “betrayal” were gradually showing results. “We did not expect such a crowd today. It is reassuring,” said a senior member who requested anonymity.
While the rally charged the AIADMK government of corruption in the State, the members also saw it as an opportunity to challenge the BJP government at the Centre, he said.
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Though out of power in Tamil Nadu for nearly five decades, the Congress was committed to working for the people of the State, Mr. Elangovan said, adding that the party would come back to power soon, ending the Dravidian parties’ nearly five-decade-long rule in Tamil Nadu.
Former Union Minister P. Chidambaram, accompanied by his son Karti Chidambaram, participated in the rally but did not make a public speech.
Earlier, actor Khushboo said those who thought the Congress was on its way out in the State were mistaken. Slamming the AIADMK government, she said: “People are tired and want a change.”
Following the rally, Mr. Elangovan met Mr. Rosaiah and handed over a memorandum, urging him to exercise the power under the Prevention of Corruption Act and seek a report from Ms. Jayalalithaa.
Mr. Elangovan requested the Mr. Rosaiah to recommend to the President of India to dissolve the Tamil Nadu government under Article 356, citing corruption charges against the State government and the Ministers.