Congress backs Tamil Nadu Chief Elangovan, dismisses talks of summoning him on P Chidambaram's complaint

NEW DELHI: The Congress leadership has backed Tamil Nadu chief EVKS Elangovan by dismissing as “speculative” claims that he was summoned by high command following a complaint by P Chidambaram. Elangovan carried on with his election campaign assignments in Delhi’s Tamil localities on Monday and finalised with AICC in-charge of his state, Mukul Wasnik, the latter’s upcoming visit to attend mandal-level party meetings, even as AICC said it was satisfied with his defence that he never took Chidambaram name in any of his statements.

“Don’t expect to lend credentials to speculative and baseless reports claiming Elangovan was summoned to Delhi,” said AICC spokesperson Abhshek Singhvi to media queries. Asked whether the high command “has pulled-up the PCC chief” after Chidambaram’s reported complaint to Rahul Gandhi, Singhvi quipped, “Elangovan himself is on record saying he never said anything against any senior leader.” When senior Congress leader Jayanthi Natarajan announced her resignation from the party last Saturday, Elangovan had said, “Not just that, if one more person quits along with his vaarisu (heir), it will mean salvation for the Congress party.”