Tamil Nadu Congress to see a split again

Faction of workers to form yet another party after Vasan quit to form a new outfit

Shortly after a faction lead by former Shipping Minister G K Vasan walked out of the party and formed a new party, another group of congress men including five All India Congress Committee (AICC) members from Tamil Nadu are leaving the party to form a new one.

The faction which has now announced to form a new party on Sunday, claims that five AICC members, 36 pradesh congress committee members, 86 district congress committee members and several former senior members would leave Congress to join new party. The workers are dissatisfied that the Congress has not been paying heed to the demands of the common members in the party, be it in the issue of Kaveri, Fishermen's issues from the neighbouring country or on Mullaiperiyar Dam issue.

"The party has been controlled by the rich members of two communities. It was these people who has been controlling the party, not the high command," said K J Bharathi, vice president, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee and AICC Member, who announced the formation of a new party. He hinted towards G K Vasan and P Chidambaram as the rich members of the two communities who are trying to control the party in Tamil Nadu.

"We have been working for the party here all these years and those rich people easily takes away the lead role. There is no representation of the backward casts and minority religions even in the national party," he said. "I have been working for the party for the last 49 years continuously, unlike some others who left the party and come back to take positions in the party," he said.

The new party would work with the regional parties on the regional issues. The members of the youth congress are also expected to join the new party, he said.