TMC leader steps down in protest
against tie-up with Jaya
Senior Tamil Maanila Congress leader and the party's chief whip in the state assembly, R Chokkar, today resigned from his membership of the House protesting against his party's decision to support the All India Anna DMK in the February 17 by-elections to three assembly seats in Tamil Nadu.
Chokkar sent in his resignation to Speaker P T R Palanivelrajan this morning through a special messenger. He told UNI later in the day that he would, however, continue to be a member of the TMC.
Chokkar said he had informed party president G K Moopanar about his decision on Friday itself.
The letter to the speaker said he (Chokkar) himself and his party had sought votes from the electorate in 1996 citing certain reasons. ''What the party has done now (by supporting the AIADMK nominees) contradicts what we had said then.''
He said it was painful to see his leader, whom he held in high esteem, surrendering his self-respect, and added that he was sure that the decision was forced upon Moopnar.
The TMC was founded on an anti-Jayalalitha platform and the main election plank of the party in the 1996 election was the corruption cases against the AIADMK president.
Chokkar's resignation is the first sign of protest in the party against the decision to join hands with Jayalalitha.
UNI
Tell us what you think of this report
|
