Chennai: It has been more than a year since former Union shipping minister GK Vasan broke away from the Congress, reviving the Tamil Maanila Congress, a party initially formed by his father GK Moopanar. In what is shaping up to be a multi-corner battle in Tamil Nadu, what impact GK Vasan can have in the state elections is yet to be seen.
History repeated itself when Vasan quit the Congress in November 2014 to revive the Tamil Maanila Congress. His father Moopanar had floated the TMC following the decision of the Congress party to align with the AIADMK in the 1996 Assembly polls. Unlike Moopanar, his son is now reportedly keen on firming ties with the ruling AIADMK.
"TMC has not yet decided on alliance. I have been touring for the past four months and getting inputs from the public and party cadres regarding the situation in Tamil Nadu as to how to go about and which will be the winning front," said Vasan.
In 1996 Assembly elections, the TMC tied up with DMK and won 39 seats while In 2001 Assembly elections, it tied up with AIADMK and won 23 seats.
Commenting on Vasan factor, writer and analyst Gnani Sankaran said, "In 1996, when TMC was formed, it wasn't a split in Congress. It was virtually Congress converting itself into TMC. And those who were left behind were very few in number. A state Congress party became TMC at that time. This time it's not like that. The TMC is a very small outfit. It is confined to Vasan's home district of Thanjavur. Beyond that, the party doesn't carry much weight in rest of Tamil Nadu."
And while the TMC is unlikely to play spoiler for the DMK-Congress combine this elections, a possible alliance with the ruling AIADMK can throw up a tough contest in a few seats. The 2016 polls may also see the two-time Rajya Sabha MP finally enter the electoral race from his hometurf of Thanjavur.
According to Gnani Sankaran, "Being a small party he may ask for one or two seats from the AIADMK. And AIADMK would like to have somebody who can claim the Congress legacy with them so that those votes can also get attracted."
Reacting to this, Vasan said, "Contesting an election for me isn't very important, that isn't my issue this election. My issue is my party that I have strengthened in 14 months. My idea is to see that my party contests in as many seats as possible and I give all my leaders, youngsters, ladies supporters and see that they win the election."
With his father Moopanar's legacy behind him, son GK Vasan hopes to replicate the success of his father in the upcoming polls. But in an already crowded political landscape, Vasan's TMC will for now aim to get a foothold in Tamil Nadu.
Comments
0 comment