Congress support for Vijay was not sudden: TNCC chief

Chennai, Oct 3:

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president B Manickam Tagore has said that the Congress decision to support Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was not taken suddenly, asserting that the party had followed a consultative process before extending its support.

Addressing a public meeting in Madurantakam on Friday, Tagore said Vijay had maintained a close relationship with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi even before entering politics. He said the two had developed closer ties over issues such as secularism and the caste census.

Tagore said state Congress leaders were invited to Delhi on January 17 to discuss the Assembly election strategy and convey their views to the party leadership. The Congress had initially decided to continue its alliance with the DMK on March 2, but later changed its position in view of the political situation, he said.

“It is incorrect to say that Congress took the decision without informing anyone,” Tagore said, adding that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge had informed DMK leader T R Baalu about the decision to support TVK before further steps were taken.

He said several positions announced by Vijay, including power-sharing in the government and a caste census, were in line with Congress policies. Tagore also recalled that Rahul Gandhi had campaigned nationally in support of a caste census.

According to Tagore, Vijay had met Rahul Gandhi as early as 2009, well before launching his political party. He said their political understanding had grown around shared views on secularism and social justice.

Tagore further claimed that Rahul Gandhi was the first political leader to speak to Vijay after the Karur incident. Gandhi had urged Vijay to overcome his grief and stand by the people who had placed their trust in him, he said.

He also said Rahul Gandhi had extended support to Vijay amid the controversy surrounding the film Jana Nayagan.

“Vijay is clear about secularism and democracy. Rahul Gandhi firmly believed that Vijay should become the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and would work for the people of the state,” Tagore said, adding that the Congress was firmly supporting the Chief Minister.