Senior Congress leader E.V.K.S Elangovan, who on Friday took the oath as the Erode (East) MLA, reiterated that he was not interested in the post of Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader. The post is now held by Sriperumbudur MLA K. Selvaperunthagai.
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Interacting with journalists at the Secretariat after taking the oath, Mr. Elangovan said Mr. Selvaperunthagai, who is also the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of the Assembly, will continue as the CLP leader.
Following Mr. Elangovan’s election in the recent byelection, there was talk that he would replace Mr. Selvaperunthagai as the CLP leader. Setting the speculation to rest, he said that though Mr. Selvaperunthagai was younger than him, “he is determined to safeguard secularism and eliminate caste and communal forces.”
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The CLP leader’s performance was good, he said, adding, “As far as I am concerned, Mr.Selvaperunthagai should continue as the CLP leader.” Asked further, he said, “When I said he should continue, I am not interested [in the post]. It is obvious.”
Mr. Elangovan downplayed the absence of his party’s MLAs at his swearing-in, saying the CLP leader was present as a representative of “our MLAs”, and TNCC president K.S. Alagiri and other party functionaries took part at the function.
Earlier, he took the oath of affirmation before Speaker M. Appavu in his chamber in the presence of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and senior Ministers K.N. Nehru, K. Ponmudy and S. Muthusamy, and legislators. CPI(M) State secretary K. Balakrishnan, CPI State secretary R. Mutharasan, VCK founder Thol. Thirumavalavan, MMK leader M.H. Jawahirullah, MDMK headquarters secretary Durai Vaiko were among others present.
As of Friday, the ruling DMK has 132 MLAs (excluding the Speaker), the AIADMK 66, the Congress 18, the PMK five, the BJP and the VCK four each, the CPI and the CPI(M) have two each in the 234-member Assembly.