Infighting erupts in Congress as party fields ex-LTTE supporter from Sriperumbudur

It will be 25 years since Sriperumbudur, a place more than 50 km from Chennai became a holy ground for many people in the country. It was here in 1991, when the former Prime Minister of India Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by LTTE bombers. This place holds a special place in the hearts of all Congress leaders, especially in Tamil Nadu. For Congress leaders, it is a blessing to get an opportunity to represent this constituency and this Assembly election this desire has caused a fissure within the party.

Four time MLA from Sriperumbudur D Yashodha, a Congress leader, is the first to protest against the selection of candidate in this constituency. Talking from her two bedroom small residence, the leader in her late sixties says, "Sriperambabdur is the place where Rajiv Gandhi shed his blood and Selva was a supporter of one of VCK, a party that supported Rajiv's assassination. Selva has even justified Rajiv's killing and even spoke for the VCK."

However, she added that she does not have a problem with Selva contesting from any other constituency.

Defending his selection to this constituency and setting aside accusation of him justifying Rajiv Gandhi's assassination Selva said, "My grandfather, my father have been Ambedkar followers and we don't believe in terrorism. I am not involved in anything related to terrorism movement. I was in VCK. That is why they are telling.''

It was in 2003 that Selva began his political career as a member of the VCK. VCK is a party that is known for its open support for the LTTE. Later in 2006, he served as an MLA under the VCK-AIADMK alliance. He joined Mayavati's Bahujan Samaj Party in 2009 and in 2010 he joined the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.

Congress spokesperson Khushboo Sundar who was campaigning for Selva from Sriperambabdur while recollecting the dark memories of Rajiv Gandhi assassination and impressing upon the public that their constituency was the holly shrine for every Congress member assured that Selva was their best choice.

Even if the Congress leadership is embarrassed by the disclosure, it is not showing it, calling it a case of sour grapes, the party said that Selva was the best candidate for the constituency.

"There are some in every party who are little unhappy that they are not being getting the seats... but that is ok... he was here... he was here in 2011... we have seen how he works and people who have complained about him should have complained about him then not now," Khushboo said.

Though the DMK-Congress alliance was quickly formed, the dissatisfaction in the seat sharing was soon made public. Congress leader P Chidambaram had earlier said that the Congress was given all unwanted seats. The Congress will be contesting for 41 seats as part of its alliance with the DMK. Open infighting in a constituency it has won several times in the past, now threatens to dent its chances.