Dissidence in TN Congress out in the open: Jothimani accuses vested interests of taking party towards destruction

Dissidence, which has been a perennial problem with the Congress in Tamil Nadu, is out in the open now, with two-time Lok Sabha member Jothimani Sennimalai squarely accusing vested interests of taking the grand old party on the path of self-destruction.

“The continuing untrammeled dissidence and groupism in the TNCC is causing frustration and fatigue. Bereft of ideological commitment and without taking up people’s issues, the permutation and combination of a few, who keep their vested interests above the party, is taking the Congress in the state down the steep slope, driving it gradually towards self-destruction,” the MP from Karur poured out her angst in a lengthy post on her ‘X’ handle.

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Expressing grave concern over the state of affairs in the TNCC, she said it is working against the selfless and fearless political path of our leader Rahul Gandhi. “No political party would block and prevent its Member of Parliament at the time of election from submitting the list of Booth Agents to the Election Commission. Sadly, it is happening in the Congress in Tamil Nadu. Efforts at diluting the party’s ideological stand and political programmes are causing agony. We can’t betray his hard work and sacrifice,” she wrote in a post on X.

“At a time when the state is facing the unprecedented threat from communal, divisive and violent forces bent upon fomenting religious hatred to capture power, the Congress here is in the news every day for the wrong reasons. A group is waiting in the wings to destroy and bury deep down the people’s welfare and the politics of social justice and self-respect nurtured by our stalwart K Kamaraj and ‘Periyar’ EV Ramasamy. It is doubtful whether the TNCC is aware of this great task and responsibility on its shoulders. We cannot abandon the Congress worker, who keeps aloft the party’s tricolour with pride, despite the party being out of power for over 60 years, and the people of Tamil Nadu, who remain steadfast in the fight against communal and divisive forces,” she said.

On the identity and respect that the Congress enjoys in Tamil Nadu, she said, “It is derived from the legacy of our great leader Kamaraj (Congress stalwart and late Chief Minister) and the sacrifices of the Nehru-Gandhi family.”

Expressing surprise at her sharp criticism, TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai said that the party had been apprised of the matter. “It is highly regrettable. It is true that there are some issues in the submission of the requisite forms and list of agents. It is shocking that she has gone public when the national leadership is yet to respond,” he told the media in Chennai.