Vasan's Tamil Maanila Congress falls apart over PWF alliance

Chennai: Call it a lack of confidence in leadership or severe drubbing in the assembly elections in the company of four party alliance, People's Welfare Front, G K Vasan's Tamil Maanila Congress is virtually falling apart, with more leaders, including former MLA C Gnanasekaran switching loyalty to Jayalalithaa's AIADMK on Tuesday. Gnanasekaran was one among the leaders who persuaded Vasan to revive Moopanar's TMC, after differences erupted between the latter and Congress high command in 2014.
Initial euphoria when the former Union minister revived the party has almost fizzled out, after aligning with PWF and DMDK in the run upto the polls. "We realized TMC is a sinking ship and lost our confidence in leadership over steering the party. The third front is a suicidal attempt in the state," said Gnanasekaran, after meeting AIADMK supremo at her Poes Garden residence, along with 70 supporters, including councillors. The four-time MLA, a vociferous speaker, who represented Congress and TMC in the assembly, said the clout of Vasan family in the party also caused discomfiture among a section.
The common refrain is that Vasan did not take even senior leaders into confidence over alliance formation until the last moment, even as reports emerged about AIADMK's 'initial' offer -- 15 seats and contest in two-leaves symbol -- doing the rounds. Senior leaders were made to believe an alliance with ruling AIADMK for over nine months, but there was not any indication of even seeking a formal appointment with AIADMK supremo to hold electoral talks. The TMC leader also rejected the idea of joining hands with DMK, after Congress inked deal with erstwhile partner, which eventually resulted in senior leader Peter Alphonse switching to parent party. TMC secured 0.5% votes from 26 seats contested in May polls.
Gnanasekaran is the latest in the series of exit from TMC to the ruling AIADMK, preceded by senior leader S R Balasubramanian, and three former MLAs, including party women's wing secretary A S Maheshwari (Coimbatore West), general secretary V Thirugnanasambandan (Peravurani), and Thanjavur district president M Ramkumar (Papanasam), a close confidante of Moopanar family. Much to the surprise of the cadres, Jayalalithaa rewarded Balasubramanian with an MP post in the Upper House, within a month of joining her party. On Tuesday, DMK former MLA Karupasamy Pandian too joined AIADMK.