Though the former Union Minister G.K. Vasan, who quit the Congress a few days ago, has chosen Tiruchi to launch the new party, he appears to have gained the support of only one of the three District Congress Committee presidents in the Tiruchi revenue district.
While M. Rajasekaran, former MLA and president of TDCC North, who is a staunch supporter of Mr. Vasan, has expressed his loyalty to him, G. Jerome Arockiaraj, president of Tiruchi City Congress Committee, and R.C. Babu, president of TDCC South have preferred to be with the Congress. Mr.Jerome and Mr.Babu are the supporters of E.V.K.S. Elangovan and P. Chidambaram respectively.
However, former Mayor Sarubala R. Tondaiman has come out in support of Mr. Vasan and she has started groundwork for the Tiruchi public meet, which is likely to be held in a day between November 21 and 23.
When the Congress leader G.K. Moopanar launched the Tamil Maanila Congress in 1996, his close confidante and then Member of Parliament of Tiruchi L. Adaikalaraj was among the first to declare his support to the new party. He switched over from the Congress to TMC with a large chunk of party cadres in Tiruchi district. However, none of his sons, who are in active politics since his demise, seems to be excited over the new party to be launched by Mr. Vasan.
The Vasan camp is of the view that it is enjoying the support of DCC presidents of neighbouring Perambalur and Ariyalur districts. Similarly, it is hopeful that most of the block level presidents in Tiruchi revenue district will support Mr. Vasan.
Mr. Rajasekaran, who has sought the permission of Divisional Railway Manager, Tiruchi, to use the G. Corner railway ground for holding the party meeting, told The Hindu that most of 22 block level presidents of Tiruchi North and South district units and three municipal level presidents had extended support to Mr. Vasan. The Tiruchi meet would prove that most of the grassroot workers of the Congress are with Mr. Vasan, he said.
Meanwhile, the police have stepped up security on the premises of Arunachala Mandram, which houses the offices of the district units, to prevent untoward incidents in the wake of recent developments in the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
Asked whether he would vacate the office, Mr. Rajasekaran said he would continue to visit the office.
