The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Thangkabalu optimistic on Left resuming ties with UPA after polls

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Tamil Nadu

Thangkabalu optimistic on Left resuming ties with UPA after polls

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI: State Congress president K.V. Thangkabalu on Saturday expressed optimism that the Left parties, which withdrew support to the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) over the nuclear deal with the US, would resume partnership with the UPA in a post-poll scenario.

Addressing reporters in connection with AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad’s visit to Chennai on March 2, Mr. Thangkabalu predicted that the Left’s resumption of ties with the Congress-led UPA would be based on the realisation that the Third Front was a pipedream.

Dismissing Left parties’ harsh criticism of the Congress as “public posturing” wrought by electoral compulsion, Mr. Thangkabalu said the leadership of the parties shared cordial ties. “They have been good to us and we have been good to them in spite of being on opposite camps in a few States such as West Bengal and Kerala.”

Poll strategy

He said Mr. Azad would interact with party leaders from across the State to evolve a strategy for the general elections and discuss measures to strengthen the State unit.

Replying to a question, Mr. Thangkabalu said it was entirely the prerogative of Congress president Sonia Gandhi to decide on alliances. The State unit would abide by any decision taken by the High Command.

The party, which would focus on the good performance of the Manmohan Singh-led government, was certain to return to power, he said.

Responding to a contention that the Centre had not shown “enough anger” over the killings of innocent Tamil civilians in Sri Lanka, Mr. Thangkabalu was emphatic that that the Congress shared as much anguish as any other party in Tamil Nadu over the loss of lives and ardently wished for the safety of the civilians.

The party’s position on the issue, clearly and repeatedly enunciated by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, was for the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE to suspend hostility and engage in dialogue.

It was also due to the Centre’s diplomatic persuasion that Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had agreed to hold talks with 24 Tamil MPs, he said. The Centre would shortly despatch another batch of relief materials to stranded civilians.

“Worrisome”

Describing the clashes between lawyers and the police at the Madras High Court as extremely worrisome, Mr. Thangkabalu urged everyone to cooperate in ensuring that the judiciary resumed smooth functioning as soon as possible.

The ugly episode could have been avoided had the police sternly and swiftly dealt with the handful of lawyers who attacked Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy inside a court room, he said.

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