This Article is From May 08, 2009

Congress: From googly to back foot

Congress: From googly to back foot
Sivaganga, Chennai:

Rahul Gandhi have given boost to Home Minister P Chidambaram`s campaign in Sivaganga. But the young Congress leader`s googly on possible post-poll allies like J Jayalalithaa has put his party on the backfoot in Tamil Nadu. The DMK is clearly not amused.

DMK spokesperson T K S  Elangovan says: "It sends out wrong signals and creates an impression that the Congress stand is not stable."

The cancellation of Sonia Gandhi`s joint rally with Karunanidhi in Chennai on Wednesday may have been due to the hospitalisation of the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. But it sparked speculation that the Congress was avoiding the DMK to please Jayalalithaa.

With all the DMK`s erstwhile allies now on its side, the AIADMK-led front`s poll prospects seem very bright. At a hurriedly convened midnight press meet in Chennai, Gulam Nabi Azad, AICC general secretary in charge of Tamil Nadu, attempted some damage control.

"It was misquoted. Rahul never said the Congress is looking at a post poll alliance with the AIADMK."

So now the Prime Minister will visit Karunanidhi in hospital on Saturday. And Sonia Gandhi is also expected to address a public meeting with the DMK Chief in Chennai on Sunday.

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