Congress in Tamil Nadu wants to go solo

If they had their way, members of the Congress in Tamil Nadu would love to be on their own, neither shake hands with the AIADMK nor hold firm to DMK’s bruised palm.

Asked how party members in the state view the prospect of a switchover from the DMK to AIADMK, a senior leader said on condition of anonymity, “It is the party high command in New Delhi that decides on alliances. We at the state level do not have a say in the matter.”

Now that the alliance with the DMK has led to such a shattering defeat, does he think that the Congress has paid for the sins of its alliance partner? “We were in an alliance. There is nothing more to be said. We cannot blame the DMK,” was the retort.

What is it that the party at the state level would prefer? “There will be no elections in the state in the next few years. We believe that we should strengthen the Congress party in the state. That’s what we would like to do,” he said.