Tamil Nadu cong chief in trouble over members’ expulsion

Tamil Nadu Congress president KV Thangkabalu is at the centre stage of a major revolt in the state unit over his decision to expel 19 members for their alleged anti-party activities hours after the polling on April 13. Out of the 19 names, seven are Youth Congress office bearers.

Tamil Nadu Congress president KV Thangkabalu is at the centre stage of a major revolt in the state unit over his decision to expel 19 members for their alleged anti-party activities hours after the polling on April 13. Out of the 19 names, seven are Youth Congress office bearers.

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The call for Thangkabalu’s removal from the party post has increased during the past few days even as union ministers P Chidambaram and GK Vasan have individually briefed Congress president Sonia Gandhi about the developments.

Vasan discussed the matter with Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi also.

Sources said Sonia is expected to take a decision on the matter after the results of the assembly polls is out on May 13.

The party has also taken a serious view of his decision to become a dummy candidate for his wife Jayanthi from Mylapore constituency. He later became the official Congress candidate after his wife’s nomination papers were rejected.

Thangkabalu’s moves have not only sparked off protests among the workers but also resulted in uniting different warring factions in the state.

“The two episodes have caused a major embarrassment to the party. He may have to go,” a senior party functionary said. Tamil Nadu Youth Congress president M Yuvaraj and former state unit chief EVKS Elangovan have both shot off letters to the party leadership, demanding his removal.

On their part, the expelled members, including R Thiagarajan, a former deputy mayor of Chennai, and SV Sekhar, the sitting MLA of Mylapore constituency, have questioned Thangkabalu’s “arbitrary” decision. Their argument is that only Sonia can expel party members. Thangkabalu, however, justified his move.