Congress panel wants new TNCC chief appointed

CHENNAI: A Congress leader with stakes in the Union ministry and popularity in Tamil Nadu should be appointed as the new president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), said Congress Reform Committee here on Monday. This is important as going to local body elections without a proper leadership would not be good for the party, the committee said. Congress Reform Committee organiser G A Vadivelu told reporters on Monday that K V Thangkabalu has been cheating the people of Tamil Nadu and Congress functionaries by stating that he had submitted his resignation from the State president’s post, following the poor performance of the Congress in the recent Assembly election.“He had not met Congress president Sonia Gandhi and submitted his resignation. Almost two months have passed since he announced his resignation. But so far, no steps have been taken by the high command to appoint a new TNCC president,” Vadivelu said.In such a scenario, the CRC had toured the entire State and listened to the opinion of the party cadre. “They all expressed dissatisfaction over the status quo in the party and are looking for a new leadership,” said Kavithai Jothi Ramalingam, deputy organiser.The CRC would conduct a Congress general body meeting on August 9 to elect the new party president. Senior leaders of the party, general body and other party-linked bodies have supported the meeting, said Ramalingam.“Five eligible leaders will be elected for the TNCC president’s post. This list will be sent to the high command. Then, we will abide by the decision taken by the high command,” Ramalingam claimed.