The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Fraternal affection proves stronger

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Mar 16, 2006

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Fraternal affection proves stronger

Special Correspondent

Party affiliation takes a back seat

VILLUPURAM: Fraternal bondage seems to be much stronger among politicians than their political affiliations. This has been proved beyond doubt in the Villupuram units of the two national parties — Congress and BJP.

The Villupuram unit of the BJP received a rude shock recently when the district president C.Ve. Babu suddenly quit and joined the ruling AIADMK.

Mr. Babu along with the district general secretary Bhaskaran joined the AIADMK in the presence of Education Minister C.Ve. Shanmugham, who happens to be his elder brother.

The BJP sources alleged that the AIADMK was angling at certain BJP leaders. However, at the crucial moment, Mr Babu had ditched the party to strengthen the hands of his brother. The sources acknowledged the BJP was yet to get a strong foothold here. When the national leaderships were hinting at the BJP going it alone, the departure of Mr. Babu would debilitate the district unit And whatever support the BJP enjoyed would further be eroded.

AIADMK seemed to have charted out a strategy to drive a wedge in as many political parties as possible for gaining political mileage. The sources hoped that the BJP would survive the minor set back and get on with its poll preparedness.

Another instance

Another instance is the case of Tindivanam K. Ramamurthy and his brother K. Sampath, Villupuram District Congress Committee (North) president.

The Congress sources said the party was aware that Mr Sampath's shifting sides would have its ripple effects in the district. However, the sources opined that the DPA was a formidable combine that could weather all storms.

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