No grudges over being denied Sivaganga ticket: Natchiappan

Senior Congress leader from Tamil Nadu and Minister of State in the Commerce Ministry, EMS Natchiappan today said he bears no grudges over not being fielded by the party as its candidate for the Sivaganga Lok Sabha seat.

Natchiappan, who had defeated Finance Minister P Chidambaram from the seat in 1999, was one of the contenders for the Sivaganga constituency ticket. Presently, the Junior Minister in Commerce Ministry is a member of Rajya Sabha.

Congress yesterday nominated Chidambaram's son Karti as its candidate for the Sivaganga seat.

"Nothing, nothing. In democracy, (we) cannot have such thinking," Natchiappan said, adding that he still has two years left in Rajya Sabha.

"I had offered to contest (from Sivaganga)... But I have got two more years in Rajya Sabha. Therefore, I left it for Madam (Sonia Gandhi) to decide... Now, Karti has been given a chance and it is a decision of the party," he told reporters on the sidelines of an Assocham event.

Without naming Chidambaram, Natchiappan said he had offered to contest from the seat thinking that senior leaders opting out of the election race may demoralise the party cadre.

"I had offered to Madam that if you feel all the senior leaders are opting out of the elections, it will lead to demoralisation amongst the cadre. (Therefore) I am ready to contest.

"If I am not contesting and not allowed to contest due to my two years left in Rajya Sabha, then my son may be given the chance to contest," he said.

When asked about Karti's nomination, he said it was part of Congress's policy to field youngsters as they can quickly spread the achievements and works of the UPA government.

After his name was announced yesterday, Karti had said: "My father has contested nine elections and thought it was time to give way. He is definitely not retiring from politics.