HVK Archives: Pressure from inside to keep TMC outside Govt
Pressure from inside to keep TMC outside Govt - The Indian Express
Mukund Padmanabhan
()
28 April 1997
Title : Pressure from inside to keep TMC outside Govt
Author : Mukund Padmanabhan
Publication : The Indian Express
Date : April 28, 1997
The Maanila Congress (TMC) executive meeting turned out to be a
high-strung emotional affair, with the majority of members
expressing themselves against rejoining the United Front (UF)
government. The executive later authorised party president G K
Moopanar to decide whether or not to participate in the United
Front (UF) government.
The unrelenting mood at the State-level caught the party leadership
by surprise. According to sources present at the meeting' only 10
per cent of the speakers were in favour of joining I K Gujral's
government.
The tone for the meeting was set by Rajya Sabha MP Peter Alphonse,
who said it made no sense to join the UF government if the TMC were
to oppose the DMK government in Tamil Nadu.
Stating there has been no change in the political circumstances to
warrant a reconsideration, he said the doubts cast on the TMC's
political integrity was a matter that should be taken to the
people.
Among others who strongly opposed participation were Lok Sabha MP P
V Rajendran, former MP Valampuri John and Pondicherry minister P
Kannan.
The TMC's strong disaffection with the DMK found expression as soon
as Moopanar entered Satyamurthi Bhavan, when party workers raised
slogans against Chief Minister Karunanidhi and Union Minister
Murasoli Maran.
This forced Moopanar to angrily silence the sloganeers, who
described Karunanidhi as the "betrayer of Tamil Nadu".
Shortly after the meeting had got underway a group of TMC student
wing leaders burnt an effigy of Murasoli Maran outside Satyamurthi
Bhavan.
However, there was little DMK-bashing at the meeting since
Moopanar, in his opening remarks, demanded that no one should be
blamed for him not becoming Prime Minister. Stating that he knew
all along he would never become Prime Minister, he said the only
reason he refused to rule himself out of the race was because of
the pressure from partymen.
Apart from Alphonse and Rajendran, no other TMC MP had an
opportunity to speak at the meeting. Moopanar had ruled that as the
parliamentary party had already made a decision, there was no need
for the MPs to speak their mind again.
While Moopanar continues to play his cards close to his chest, it
remains to be seen whether he will be influenced by the
unexpectedly strong reaction at the meeting. Given the tenor of the
proceedings, it was perhaps inevitable that the meeting ended by
authorising Moopanar to decide whether or not to participate.
While no time limit has been set for a decision, party sources
maintain that it will be taken within the next couple of days.
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