The already enfeebled Congress today suffered a split in Tamil Nadu with one of its top leaders G K Vasan quitting the party and planning to start a new outfit.
Hitting back, the Congress leadership expelled him from the party for his inappropriate comments against it.
Angry over the way the Congress leadership handled the affairs of the state unit and allegedly ignored the merit of leaders, Vasan, son of late Congress leader late G K Moopanar, said he was quitting the party and would soon float a new party.
"We have taken this decision after getting the feedback of lakhs of Congress cadres in Tamil Nadu and also leaders of Congress party in Tamil Nadu. We have sent in our resignations," he announced at a press conference here.
The development marks a full circle 18 years after his father broke from the Congress and formed the Tamil Maanila Congress which tied up with the DMK to sweep the Assembly and Parliament elections in 1996. Later the party merged with Congress in 2002.
Avoiding any criticism of Congress President Sonia Gandhi and her deputy Raghul Gandhi, Vasan squarely blamed others entrusted with party affairs in the state. The approach of AICC in Tamil Nadu was not satisfactory in achieving its goal of bringing party rule in Tamil Nadu, he said.
Reacting to Vasan's decision and his attack on the leadership, Congress spokesperson Ajoy Kumar announced his expulsion from the party. He said the party took the decision on the basis of inappropriate comments he made about it and the leadership.
