TMC blows poll bugle at first general council meet

Tamil Manila Congress (TMC) president G.K. Vasan chose to take on both the Centre and State governments on Friday, criticising their lax functioning.

But the first general council meeting of the party failed to provide any clear indication of the stand the party would take as far as electoral strategy goes.

While speaker after speaker, including Mr. Vasan, wanted the TMC to work towards capturing power in the 2016 Assembly polls, there was no clarity on the method of achieving this goal. The meeting was also silent on alliances.

Speaking at the meeting, which elected him as party president, Mr. Vasan launched a scathing attack on the BJP.

“Eleven months have gone by since the BJP formed the government.

In these eleven months, they have given sermons but achieved nothing,” he charged.

Mr. Vasan slammed the “anti-minority” policies of the Centre and continuous provocation by some of its Ministers. “The Centre should control such persons with an iron fist,” he said.

He accused the Centre of derailing welfare measures such as the MNREGS.

By increasing the interest on farm loans to 11 per cent and insisting on passing the Land Acquisition Bill, farmers have been let down, he added.

Mr. Vasan said there was a visible slowdown in the AIADMK government’s functioning.

This resulted in delay in welfare measures reaching the public. “During the rule of Kamaraj, the government was growth and development-oriented. This approach has changed in the last 48 years,” he said.

Given the increase in powers of the States, a competitive spirit between them was needed to get Central funds and investments.

The TMC, he said, was ready to give a government that would make Tamil Nadu a winner in “competitive federalism.”

Demanding prohibition in the State, he said if orders for it were not passed by October 2, the TMC will launch an agitation.