Vaiko hopes Congress leadership will resolve differences with DMK

MDMK general secretary Vaiko on Tuesday hoped that the Congress leadership would resolve the differences with DMK and set aside difference of opinion and minor heartburns caused by statements of leaders of both parties.

Speaking to reporters here, Mr. Vaiko said some leaders of the Congress had come out with statements, criticising the DMK. However, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai had played down their remarks and stated that the alliance between the two parties would continue. Senior Congress leader A. Bopanna had condemned the statement of Congress MP Manickam Tagore, and expressed his wish that his party would continue the alliance without any condition.

DMK president M.K. Stalin and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi maintained a close and cordial understanding with each other. Hence, the Congress leadership would brush aside the difference of opinion and continue in the alliance led by the DMK, Mr. Vaiko said.

Asked about the Congress leaders openly making statements on power sharing when it was supposed to be dealt by the TNCC president, Mr. Vaiko said that making views and counter views was nothing new in the Congress. The practice prevailed even during the formative period of the party. However, the Congress high command would brush them aside.

To a question if he would ask the constituents of the DMK-led alliance to offer unconditional support to the DMK as the MDMK, Mr. Vaiko said he was not the leader of the front to offer advice to other constituents. But all of them were united in continuing the alliance without any problems.

The MDMK leader said the Vedanta group, which was forced to close its Sterlite factory in Thoothukudi following a long legal battle, had been making serious efforts to restart production under a different name. Though the factory was closed, almost all machinery was still intact. The State government should thwart the moves of the group to restart.