Will upset Congress leader GK Vasan strikeIJ
With the DMK out of the United Progressive Alliance, the last thing that the Congress needs in Tamil Nadu is a revolt by its senior leaders in the run-up to the lok Sabha election. Reports that Union Minister for Shipping GK Vasan is contemplating the revival of the Tamil Maanila Congress because he is disgusted at being sidelined in the party's affairs, both in his home State and at the Centre, should cause concern to the Congress. Although Mr Vasan has denied any such move — and indeed there is no specific indication that he is going to quit the Congress — rumours cannot be dismissed outright. There cannot be smoke without fire. The banners which have sprung up in Chennai exhorting him to take a fresh path and bring the TMC back to life as the vehicle for his future politics, does show that something is brewing. His supporters would not have taken the issue in the public domain without his knowledge, if not concurrence. Of course, the move can be seen as posturing by the disgruntled Minister, in the hope that such pressure tactics will make the party's high command realise his importance and nuisance value. Mr Vasan must be aware that, if he has to take on his party, this is the moment. The lok Sabha election is due in a few months (so he has very little to lose if he revolts), his term in the Rajya Sabha expires in a year's time (the party may not re-nominate him or have the numbers to secure his election), the Congress is without an ally in Tamil Nadu (that makes it even more vulnerable) and Ms J Jayalalithaa and her AIADMK Government are firmly in position (that leaves the DMK marginalised for now). It is an opportune time for a heavyweight rebel to strike. The million dollar question is: Will Mr Vasan take the plungeIJ After all, he cannot be ignorant of the fact that the TMC, founded by rebel Congressman GK Moopanar with great fanfare, had met a sorry end. Many Congressmen who had joined the party returned to the parent organisation once the party merged with the Congress eight years ago.
But even an equally important issue which should give the Congress sleepless nights is the growing factionalism in the party at the State level; Mr Vasan's despair is a fall-out of that. It is said that a group of well-entrenched leaders who owe allegiance to Union Minister for Finance P Chidambaram has marginalised Mr Vasan's supporters in the State. The perception also is that, using the heft that he commands in the Union Government, Mr Chidambaram has effectively stymied the Union Shipping Minister's stature at the Centre. Ironically, Mr Chidambaram was one of the important leaders to switch over from the Congress to the TMC when the rebel party was launched, and he remained with the new outfit from 1996 to 2001, serving in important positions. But, with a change in the political atmosphere in the country, he made a seamless re-entry into the Congress — like Mr Vasan did.