New Delhi: Amid Rahul Gandhi's tour of Tamil
Nadu, Congress on Wednesday dismissed suggestions of a growing rift
between it and the DMK in the poll-bound state in the wake of
the 2G spectrum scam.
"I totally disagree. It is your adjective...Rahul
Gandhi's tour has nothing to do with local politics and
national alliances," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told
reporters when asked about reports of a "growing rift" between
the two parties.
At the same time, Singhvi made it clear that it is a
stated policy of Congress that "the ultimate aim is to come to
power on its own in the states."
"Is it an unfair expectation for a party?" he asked.
When told that DMK has come out in support of beleaguered
A Raja, who resigned as Telecom Minister in the wake of the
scam, Singhvi said that the vital point was that DMK has said
that they have nothing to say on the investigations.
A senior party leader, who declined to be identified,
said that the DMK has been caught in a difficult situation in
the wake of the scam and "they do not want to rock the
alliance boat."
He said that the offer of AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa
of unconditional support to the UPA at the Centre if it dumped
the DMK has proved as a "dampner" for the DMK.
He felt that the Congress would be continuing its
alliance with DMK in the assembly polls despite a section of
partymen in the state being against it. "You cannot change
partners in a few months".
In the event of the DMK-led alliance comes to power, the
Congress this time would demand power sharing, he said.
Meanwhile in Chennai, Rahul Gandhi, keen to revive the
party in Tamil Nadu, today asked Youth Congress members to
"slowly and systematically" build the organisation and urged
more youngsters to join politics.
"This battle of yours to build the future of Congress
will not be easy. Building the party, which has been out of
power for (nearly) 40 years (in TN) is going to take time. We
should be prepared to work, especially at the grassroots
level," he told newly elected office-bearers of the state unit
of Indian Youth Congress.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, December 22, 2010, 23:16