Defiant Karti Chidambaram says only AICC can send show-cause notice to him

CHENNAI: The infighting in the state unit of the Congress escalated on Tuesday with former Union minister P Chidambaram’s son Karti refusing to give an explanation to a show-cause notice issued by Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief E V K S Elangovan.
Elangovan issued the show-cause notice last week after Karti Chidambaram criticized the party’s policies at an informal meeting. He had asked Karti to reply before January 30 failing which he would to take action against him, including his expulsion from the party.
In a letter addressed to Elangovan, Karti said, "Since I am a member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC), only the Congress Disciplinary Committee has powers to issue notice. You will have to report about me to the committee and if it seeks an explanation, I am ready to reply."
"It was a luncheon meeting on January 22 and I did not use either the Congress flag or its symbol or any other insignia. I did not invite the media and there is no way you could have known about the meeting through the press," said Karti.
"If you had heard my speech in full, you will understand that I did not criticize either the party or its leaders. Therefore, there is no need for you to seek explanation and for me to reply to your notice," Karti wrote in his letter.
In the meeting, Karti asked his supporters from all 234 assembly constituencies in the state to forget the dream of the Congress capturing power in the state in 2016. He said the party should project a leader who would be the chief ministerial candidate and also have specific ideas which could be put forward to the people.
Karti said though he disliked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he appreciated the way BJP trounced the Congress in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
Meanwhile, Elangovan told TOI that he was yet to receive Karti’s letter. “Once I receive the letter, I will decide what needs to be done.”
Asked about Karti’s claim that it was unofficial luncheon meeting, Elangovan said, “I don't understand. How can a politician have unofficial meeting with 200 people. However, I have informed AICC about it and will take necessary action after I get the reply."