Cong MLAs lobby party brass for cabinet berths

Chennai: All five Congress MLAs, who met Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday, are seeking ministerial positions as the party prepares to share power in Tamil Nadu after six decades, sources told TOI."The party has sought two cabinet berths from the TVK leadership. Now every MLA is trying to secure the backing of the national leadership. The names will be finalised in a day or two," a senior Congress leader said. The main aspirants are K Rajesh Kumar (Killiyoor), P Viswanathan (Melur), and Tharahai Cuthbert (Colachel), who have been appointed floor leader, whip, and deputy floor leader in the assembly. The other two MLAs are Y N Jamal Mohamed Younoos and T T Praveen.Rajesh, a Christian Nadar, is a three-time MLA from Killiyoor in Kanyakumari. He was made Congress floor leader in the previous assembly after K Selvaperunthagai became TNCC chief. Former Kancheepuram MP Viswanathan, a dalit, won the general seat in Melur after being named the candidate at the last minute. Tharahai, who holds a doctorate in English, belongs to the fisher community and has been associated with NSUI from a young age. She served as Kanyakumari district vice-president of the Youth Congress before being fielded from Vilavancode after the incumbent S Vijayadharani quit Congress to join BJP.AICC in-charge for Tamil Nadu Girish Chodankar said there was no formal discussion between Congress and TVK on cabinet berths."But they have asked us to be part of the govt, and we have accepted. It is a dream of every Congress worker to have a share in power. And it is a big opportunity for our party to rebuild and to work towards what Kamaraj ji taught us," Chodankar told TOI.Rahul Gandhi told the newly elected MLAs to focus on strengthening the party, travel across the state, and prepare for the upcoming local body elections, sources said.