The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Vasanthakumar to contest as Independent

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Apr 12, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Vasanthakumar to contest as Independent

By Our Staff Reporter

TIRUNELVELI, APRIL 11. The rival Congress group here, opposing the former Union Minister, Dhanushkodi Adityan's nomination as the candidate for Tirunelveli Parliamentary constituency, has decided to field the president of Congress Trade Wing, H. Vasanthakumar, as an Independent.

In a joint statement here tonight, the president of Tirunelveli City Congress Students' Wing, W. Duke Durairaj; the president of Tuticorin District Congress Trade Wing, Saravanan; the president of Tirunelveli East District Congress Trade Wing, Shanthi Murugesan, and the president of Tirunelveli City District Congress Trade Wing, R. Julius, said a ``tainted personality'' (Dhanushkodi Adityan) had been fielded as the candidate and this was condemnable.

When contacted, sources close to Mr. Vasanthakumar told The Hindu that the high command had succumbed to the pressure exerted by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief, G.K. Vasan. The nomination of Mr. Adityan was a signal to the ``real Congress forces'' that the high command was not in favour of ``really dedicated leaders, who neither parted their way with the party nor betrayed it''.

``So we'll support the idea of contesting the elections as an Independent as it is the only way to show our strength. At the same time, it will also tell our high command that the choice of the Congress is wrong,'' he said.

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