TN Congress Conundrum: Confusion Worse Confounded

Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra recently visited Chennai for the Women’s Conclave of the I.N.D.I.A bloc. According to informed sources, Mrs Gandhi was not feeling well so her trip to Sriperumbudur (place where Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated) with Priyanka was called off and both retired at the ITC Grand Chola. The Congress cadres waited patiently for an audience with her, with TNCC chief KS Alagiri keeping vigil, in vain. Reportedly, the next day Congress members were milling around to see Sonia. Peter Alphonse, the gravelly old hand had his say when he urged Sonia to find a younger leader for TN. For good measure he gave some unwanted advice too…Look at the live wire K Annamalai, TN BJP chief. Sonia shot back, “You are insisting on a change, but what has been done to build the Congress here”? One can imagine how uncomfortable Alagiri felt, when Jothimani Sennimalai too joined the chorus for a change. Even as Alagiri was expecting to be given an audience, Kanimozhi announced her lunch with Sonia at the same venue. With so much discontent and discord in the ranks of the Congress, analysts are flummoxed by this touch-me-not-attitude of the first family of the Congress. Either the Teflon coating is a firm shield or the Gandhis are certain that their political comeback is certain.