AICC will decide on TN assembly polls alliance: Elangovan

Erode, Jan 13 (PTI) Senior Congress leader E V K SElangovan, a fierce critic of the DMK rule in Tamil Nadu oflate, today refused to comment if his party would continue itsalliance with the ruling party for the assembly polls due inMay.

�The AICC will decide it, I have always abided the partyhigh command''s decisions,� Elangovan told reporters here whenasked about the poll alliance.

�I have already expressed my views and wishes about thealliance with the Congress high command, similarly the feelingand sentiments of the Youth Congress have also been heard bythe AICC.� He said that like all other parties, the Congresswould announce its alliance after the election dates areannounced.

The relations between the Congress and the DMK had beenstrained recently following comments by Elangovan, who saidthe Youth Congress in Tamil Nadu had told AICC leader RahulGandi during his visit to the state in December last that thecadre did not want the DMK to return to power in next assemblyelections.

He had also said that so far as he knew, CongressPresident Sonia Gandhi had not stated that the alliance withthe DMK would continue for the forthcoming assembly elections.

Elangovan had slammed the M Karunanidhi-led government,saying the only reason for so much of displeasure amongCongressmen was that the DMK regime had "turned into afamily-centred rule."

Despite choosing not to continue his barbs at the DMKtoday with respect to the alliance however, the Congressleader said the state government alone was responsible for the"abnormal hike in sand and brick prices." �The DMK governmentis solely responsible for the hike, so the Tamil Nadu ChiefMinister should take immediate steps to reduce the prices ofbrick, sand and other construction materials,� he said.

However, the former Union Minister for Textiles alsowelcomed the announcement of the state government naming theGovernment Hospital, Chennai as Rajiv Gandhi GovernmentHospital.

Elangovan appealed to the Chief Minister to allow theCongress to install the statues of former Chief Minister KKamaraj and former minister P Kakkan in the Radhapuram busstand here.

The Congress leader made an appeal for permission toinstall a full-size statue of Kamaraj in Kadaganeri, situatednear Aalamkulam. Elangovan was making the plea on behalf ofSudalaimuthu Nadar, a freedom fighter who has decided toundergo an indefinite fast from Jan 19 on the issue. PTI CORRARPARP01132129