Campaign for PC to head TN Cong a double-edged ploy

CHENNAI: In a case of wheels operating within wheels in the Congress party, the tussle for the post of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) chief has taken a piquant turn with a clutch of senior leaders impressing upon the high command that former Union finance minister P Chidambaram should be persuaded to take over the reins of the state unit.

Sources said this was a "ploy" borne out of a congruence of interests within the party at the national and state level. The twin objectives are to scuttle the chances of some other leaders like S Thirunavukkarasar, a six-time MLA who started his political career in the AIADMK, and former Union minister Sudarsana Natchiappan while sidetracking Chidambaram who is well positioned now to take over as the leader of opposition in the

Rajya Sabha

. Chidambaram is slated to take over the RS role from AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad who has been moved to poll duty in Uttar Pradesh.

In a move to get Chidambaram into the Rajya Sabha to take on the ruling BJP at the Centre, Congress got him elected from Maharashtra after his prospects of entering the upper house from TN faded with ally DMK nominating its own leaders. Sources said this had upset his detractors at the national level and, when the TNCC chief resigned, they sensed an opportunity to lobby for Chidambaram as the TNCC chief while pushing the case of some other leaders as the opposition leader in the Rajya Sabha.

Till Monday, Thirunavukkarasar appeared to be emerging as a consensus candidate as he is not part of any faction in the state unit and has a sound knowledge and experience of TN politics. having launched his political career in the AIADMK in 1977 during the MGR days besides having a stint in the BJP during the Vajpayee regime

TNCC chief EVKS Elangovan resigned last month owning responsibility after the party won just eight of the 41 assembly seats it contested. His successor is expected to be named this week.