It was supposed to be the first general council of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee in almost two decades, but the development outside the venue, Kamarajar Arangam, turned the spotlight back on internal squabbles in the party in the State.
Ahead of the meeting on Friday morning, TNCC member Karate R. Thiagarajan launched an attack on Congress spokesperson Khushbu Sundar, claiming that she had not renewed her membership of the party.
“Those who are in the general body should pay ₹5 towards membership and ₹100 as nomination fee. As far as I know, Khushbu neither paid ₹5 nor did she get the nomination form after paying ₹100,” he said.
Ms. Khushbu, who was in Hyderabad, told The Hindu that she was answerable only to the party high command and seniors. “I don’t have to respond to him [Thiagarajan]. I had campaigned extensively for him. If there was an issue, he should have spoken up earlier than bring this up on the day of the meeting,” she said.
Ms. Khushbu said it seemed like there was a clear intention on the part of Mr. Thiagarajan to be in limelight. “I will complete three years in the party in November.
He doesn’t know the membership rules. He should speak after knowing the facts,” she said, adding that such allegations would bring a bad name to the party.
TNCC president Su. Tirunavukkarasar said he was busy with the meeting where over 800 members had taken part. “I will enquire into what happened,” said TNCC chief Thirunavukkarasar.
Focus on Rahul
Mr. Tirunavukkarasar who spoke at the general council said, “This is a meeting to lay the foundation to make Rahul Gandhi the Prime Minister of India. We have laid the first stone in the process towards that goal”.
He slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for failing to keep any of the BJP’s poll promises. “Now, even the RSS has warned that using Modi’s name alone will not help the BJP win elections anymore,” he said.
