Vasan to launch new regional party tomorrow

Former Union Minister G K Vasan, who parted ways with Congress, is all set to formally launch his new political party here tomorrow, jumping into the political spectrum of Tamil Nadu dominated by Dravidian behemoths - ruling AIADMK and DMK.
Twelve years after merging Tamil Maanila Congress, floated by his father and veteran leader G K Moopanar, with Congress, Vasan walked out of the grand old party early this month, slamming the style of functioning of certain high command leaders.
He had also questioned the way the affairs of the state unit were being managed in the backdrop of Congress's rout in the Lok Sabha elections.

While announcing his exit from Congress on November 3, Vasan had said he would launch his outfit at a meeting in Tiruchirappalli, often considered an auspicious launching pad in Tamil Nadu's political circles for many a venture.
On the eve of the rally, the city's landscape is dotted by posters, graffiti and cut-outs welcoming the former Union Shipping Minister.
Senior Congress leaders including former TNCC president BS Gnanadesikan, former Lok Sabha MPs Viswanthan and NSV Chithan, MLAs John Jacob and NR Rangarajan among others are part of Vasan's new party, the name of which will be announced at the rally tomorrow.

Vasan unveiled the party's flag on Wednesday which had pictures of veteran leaders, late K Kamaraj and Moopanar, embossed on it.

The faction-riven Congress has been down playing the development and floating of new regional party by Vasan, saying it does not stand to lose anything in the wake of Moopanar's son quitting and senior leaders following suit.
Senior leader and former Union Minister P Chidambaram, who had accompanied Moopanar when he founded the TMC in 1996 after falling out with Congress, had termed Vasan as a 'fallen branch' of a tree, saying it will not make an impact on the tree - Congress.

Though Vasan had taken the mantle of TMC after his father's death, he had merged it with the Sonia Gandhi-led party in 2002.
He was Minister in UPA's both terms starting 2004, holding the significant Shipping portfolio in his second stint.
Vasan had toured the state in the past weeks holding discussions with his followers.