Moopanar’s pro-Cong stand leaves Pondy parties in a tizzy

Even if the three nominated MLAs are taken into account, in a House of 33,the TMC and the Congress enjoy the support of 17 MLAs, leaving it a comfortable majority, even if the conscience is uncomfortable. The DMK, with a strength of only seven MLAs, maintains that the TMC has no alternative plans. Its MLAs vouch for the TMC’s continued support as indicated by Moopanar’s statement to the press that co-ordination with the Congress did not mean revocation of the alliance with the DMK, and that the two parties continued to be partners.

The Congress in Pondicherry has maintained an ominous silence about the speculation in political circles over the possibility of ties between the TMC and the party unit there.

Breaking his party’s silence on the issue, PCC president P Shanmugham told The Indian Express that the Congress in Pondicherry would abide by any decision taken by AICC president Sonia Gandhi.

Shanmugham, back in Pondicherry after a visit to Delhi along with other senior party colleagues to attend the CWC meeting, says the party leaders of the Union Territory haveinformed her that the unit would stand by her decision. “We have no difference of opinion. Whatever Sonia Gandhi decides, is our decision, too”.

Asked about the possibility of an alternative government comprising the TMC and the Congress, Shanmugham said, “Only the AICC president will decide. It is not left to us to decide. Nobody has spoken to us about an alternative government with the TMC”.

On the views of the party cadres and whether they were in favour of ties with the TMC and forming a government with it, Shanmugham said, “We will convey our views and that of the cadre to Sonia Gandhi whenever she seeks our opinion on the matter”. However, there is a spring in his stride though he lost the Lok Sabha election from the Union Territory.