CLP convened amidst displeasure over CM's Pro-LTTE remarks

Chennai, Nov 11 (UNI) The crucial Legislature Party meeting of the Congress, which was providing outside support to the DMK Government in Tamil Nadu, began here today to discuss a host of politically sensitive issues.

The meeting, chaired by CLP Leader D Sudarsanan, who had issued a fiat to all the 35 MLAs to ''attend without fail,'' was being held in the backdrop of the recent stabbing of TNCC President M Krishnasamy near Mudukulathur village in Ramanathapuram district by a group of 50 people and Chief Minister M Karunanidhi eulogising slain LTTE Leader S P Thamilchelvan after his death in an air attack by the Sri Lankan Air Force on November two.

Besides, the subsequent condolence meeting organised by the allies of the DPA had left the rank and file of the party fuming.

Considering that DMK was a key ally both at the Centre and in the State, the Congress, honouring the 'coalition dharma,' chose to distance itself from Mr Karunanidhi's poem eulogising the LTTE leader and merely said ''it was his personal view.'' The heartburn among the Congress leaders and its workers alike was quite natural because LTTE, a banned outfit in India, was responsible for the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The issue was expected to dominate the meeting, which was convened to express in ''one voice,'' the party's displeasure over the ruling DMK's inability to track down the culprits involved in the attack on Mr Krishnasamy even about two weeks after the incident.

The TNCC Chief was on his way to pay homage to Muthuramalinga Thevar at Pasumpon on October 30 when the incident occurred.

About 30 of the 35 MLAs, including the supporters of the factions headed by Union Ministers G K Vasan and E V K S Elangovan attended the meeting held at TNCC Headquarters Sathiyamurthy Bhavan.

UNI