MKs remarks on Jaya childish: EVKS

VELLORE: Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister EVKS Elangovan continued his tirade against the DMK, labelling the party leader M Karunanidhi’s statements against Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa as ‘childish.’ Speaking at a party meeting in Gudiyattam on Sunday, Elangovan said, “Most of the Congress cadre in the State are demanding that they snap ties with the DMK,” and went on to add, “an alliance with any party other than the DMK should be formed by the Congress high command and we will accept this happily.” He also indicated that this was not a decision that ought to be kept for the future, but ought to be implemented immediately, “The local body elections are coming up and it is obvious that if the Congress competes alone, they will win much more than with this alliance,” said Elangovan.The senior Congress leader was all praise for the AIADMK-led alliance that ousted his own party, showering praise on the Chief Minister in particular, “The current AIADMK government with Jayalalithaa at the helm has begun tremendously well. I am certain that she will correct all the mistakes that they made during their previous rule and do much for the people,” Elangovan said. He also voiced support for Jayalalithaa’s controversial decision to shift the state secretariat back to Fort St George and her stand against the Uniform System of School Education (USE) scheme. He said, “I appreciate the stand she has taken  by trying to stop the Samacheer Kalvi (USE) textbooks. Hopefully, educationalists will work towards launching the books soon.” He also stated that the DMK patriarch’s move to get the ‘new’ secretariat inaugurated by the Prime Minister without even fully completing the work, was not right, “She is fully justified in shifting the secretariat to it’s rightful place,” he saidHe also sent an olive branch to DMDK chief Vijayakanth, whom he verbally criticised while on the campaign trail before the polls, “The people expect him (Vijayakanth) to be a voracious and aggressive opposition leader. I am certain he will not disappoint.”Elangovan indicated that he might be harbouring ambitions for the recently vacated seat of State President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC).