Tamil Nadu Congress spokesperson Khushbu is in the bad books of some of her party members who have demanded that the high command take disciplinary action against her.
The anger against Khushbu comes after she recently made a statement in an interview that the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) was likely to get a new chief within the next two months. She added that the current TNCC chief S Thirunavukkarasar could “do much better” and that there were several senior leaders being considered for the post.
The matter reportedly came up at a meeting of the Kancheepuram Central district workers on Tuesday. Miffed by Khushbu’s statement, one leader questioned what right Khushbu had to comment on decisions taken by the party high command.
Meanwhile, Thirunavukkarasar dismissed Khushbu’s statements as unworthy of attention. He reportedly said, “I have waged political battles even against former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. We need not even bother about her or her statements.”
Khushbu also said in the interview that whenever she and the Congress party president Rahul Gandhi had met, they spoke about the need for “change” in Tamil Nadu. While refusing to give names as to who were the senior leaders being considered for leading the TNCC, Khushbu maintained that a change in leadership itself was imperative.
When asked about the friction against her in the Tamil Nadu Congress, Khushbu, who is presently on vacation in London, said that she had no comment to offer.
Khushbu’s remarks are reminiscent of those she made in before quitting the DMK to join the Congress in 2014. The actor-turned-politician had said in an interview to a Tamil magazine that while Kurananidhi had named Stalin as his successor, the final decision would depend on the DMK general council’s vote.
The remarks drew ire of Stalin supporters, and apparently miffed Stalin as well. She resigned from the party soon after.
Though there are reports now of a dip in Khushbu’s favour in TNCC, she said in the interview that she was happy in the Congress, and was also happy in the DMK while she was with the party.
"I am very very happy. I was happy in DMK too. Dr Kalaignar (DMK president Karunanidhi) had great regards for me and I for him. I am still in touch with Kanimozhi and Selvi akka (elder sister). I am still in touch with many leaders in the DMK. I was happy there and I am happy here too," she told TOI.