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With reports of the top leadership in the Congress in Tamil Nadu, not keen to contest the polls since the party's chances are bleak with the party going its alone, in the state, a miffed Congress Vice president Rahul Gandhi has made it clear that the senior leaders have to contest the polls especially now that the party was trying to build its organization in the state. Finance Minister P Chidambaram was reportedly not keen to contest himself and wanted his son Karti to be fielded in his place.
The central election committee before which the short listed names for every seat are discussed the current state of affairs in Tamil Nadu.
Shipping minister GK Vasan, former Cabinet Minister Jayanthi Natarajan, former party chief KV Thangabalu and leader EVKS Elangovan are reportedly not eager to fight the Lok Sabha election.
According to sources, Gandhi was displeased that when the party was with a strong ally and slated to win, then leaders were keen to contest and become Union ministers, but when the chips were down then they wanted to opt out. Gandhi has reportedly made it clear that all hands need to be on board.
A Congress leader in the know how of the occurrences said that there was also a view that as several seats would be vacated in the Rajya Sabha in April, Chidambaram could be sent to Parliament through that route. And as in Sivaganga the Congress was engaged in party strengthening activities his son Karti who is an independent lawyer himself and would be able to cash in on his father's name could be fielded.
Other senior leaders GK Vasan, Jayanthi Natarajan, former PCC chief KV Thangabalu and EVKS Elangovan - all have been shortlisted for consideration.
Jayanthi Natarajan's Rajya Sabha membership is slated to end soon and so like the other veteran Mani Shankar Aiyar, she has been included in the screening committee shortlist.
Sources say, "Gandhi is acutely aware that the party many perform dismally in Tamil Nadu, but he is very clear that both veterans and new faces need to fight to create a presence in the state."
The principle that is being followed is that all sitting MPs are being considered and from the weak seats new faces are likely to be fielded so that even after they lose they can cultivate the constituency for the Congress.
The party leadership hopes by two years time when the state goes to assembly elections, the organizational set up would be in place.
