Chidambaram outburst draws TMC ire

Chidambaram outburst draws TMC ire
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Chennai, March 12: A group of senior TMC leaders today attacked former Union Minister P Chidambaram for his open criticism of the decision to ally with the AIADMK in the coming assembly elections even as party workers burnt his effigy at its headquarters in protest.

Replying to his criticism of the alliance on Sunday through the media, the leaders who are members of the election committee, said in a statement that Chidambaram's contention that he was not consulted was "utterly false and motivated".

They said he was consulted at every stage on the election strategy and party president G K Moopanar had even sent senior leaders to Chidambaram's residence to elicit his opinion and spoken to him over telephone.

Though the leaders did not refer to Chidambaram's criticism that the alliance would not provide good governance they said the decision was unanimous.

"How justified is it to seek reconsideration of the decision and especially through the media", they asked.

On many occasions, Chidambaram had chosen to stay away from meetings even while remaining in the city.

"Chidamabaram should ask his conscience whether, by not participating in meetings, but giving his opinion once in 15 days when he comes to the city through the media, is the debt that he is repaying to the tmc volunteers", they said.

The joint statement was issued by S Balakrishnan (leader of the opposition in the state assmbly), S R Balasubramaniam, R Danushkodi Adithan, Jayanthi Natarajan (all former Union ministers), S G Vinayagamurthy, D Sudarshanam, S Peter Alphonse, L Balaraman, N Abdul Khader and V Balaji.

The volunteers, shouting slogans against Chidambaram and Haroon, TMC MLA who resigned from the party and aligned with the DMK front, later tore up some posters of the former finance minister. Some women workers threw slippers at the posters of the MLA. They dispersed only after senior party leaders rushed to the spot and pacified them.