Chennai: Defending the Congress party's decision to extend support to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in the post-election scenario, senior Congress leader C Rajesh Kumar on Thursday strongly rejected allegations that the move amounted to 'betraying' the people of Tamil Nadu or 'stabbing them in the back'. He asserted that the party had acted in the best interests of the state.
Congress Stands by TVK for Secular Future
Rajesh Kumar explained that the Congress had remained with the DMK front despite other available options because of its firm resolve to keep communal forces away from Tamil Nadu. However, the party has now decided to support the TVK, respecting the current mood of the people and the democratic verdict. 'We have taken this decision keeping in mind the future welfare of the state,' he stated.
He reiterated that the Congress remains steadfast in its commitment to prevent the RSS and other communal forces from gaining a foothold in Tamil Nadu. 'All secular forces should unite and a strong secular government should be formed in Tamil Nadu,' he emphasized.
TVK's Secular Credentials Highlighted
Rajesh Kumar further noted that the TVK is a secular party and pointed out that its leader, Vijay, had named former chief minister K Kamaraj as his ideological leader. 'Supporting a movement which has declared that it has internalised the ideals of Perunthalaivar Kamarajar and would travel on the path of social justice would strengthen secular values in Tamil Nadu,' he said.
Congress Rajya Sabha MP Christopher Manickam also defended the decision, stating that it was taken in the larger interest of the state to ensure the continuance of a secular government. 'Around 65 percent of the voters in the state, including the 35 percent that voted for TVK, have categorically rejected the BJP and their alliance. Congress is keen to keep communal forces outside Tamil Nadu, so we aligned with TVK,' Christopher told reporters in Trichy.
Protests Against Governor Over Delay
Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) announced statewide protests against Governor RN Ravi over the delay in inviting TVK chief Vijay to form the government, despite the TVK emerging as the single largest party in the assembly elections. TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai accused the BJP and the governor of attempting to deny the TVK its rightful democratic opportunity to form the government.
AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar, launched a sharp attack on the governor. 'Due to his RSS background and the pressure from Narendra Modi and Amit Shah, I feel the governor is bowing before the BJP rather than before the Constitution and the people of Tamil Nadu. The governor must respect the mandate given by the people of Tamil Nadu,' Chodankar said. He warned that there would be a revolt if the governor tries to impose his rule. 'We also appeal to all the secular parties to come out and support the people's mandate,' he added.
