Karti Chidambaram has refused to respond to the show cause notice from the Tamil Nadu unit of the Congress.
Upcoming Congress leader Karti Chidambaram has refused to respond to the show cause notice issued by Tamil Nadu Congress president EVKS Elangovan, following allegations that he criticised the Congress leadership and its policy at a meeting.
Karti, son of former Union Minister P Chidambaram, was issued the notice on January 23 for his alleged remarks against the party and its high command at a meeting of his supporters, collectively named 'G-67', a reference to those born after 1967, the year in which the Congress was last in power in Tamil Nadu.
In his speech at the meeting, which was held on January 22, while dissecting the electoral travails of the Congress, Karti, 43, had reportedly appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his "political knowledge and acumen" in steering the party to success. This triggered Mr Elangovan to send Karti the notice.
In the notice, Mr Elangovan had said Karti had criticised the party high command and thus 'put spokes' in the growth of the Congress and sought an explanation in a week's time. He had also said Karti would be expelled if he did not reply.
Responding to the notice, Karti in a letter today said, "I'm am a member of the All India Congress Committee and only the AICC's disciplinary committee is empowered to issue show cause notice to members. I'm prepared to send explanation if they seek."
Mr Karti also explained that he had organised a private dinner meet for his friends and no party flag or symbol was used. "No media covered it and had you collected the complete information, you would have understood. I did not speak anything critical of the Congress leadership or policy," he added
A turf war in the fragmented Tamil Nadu Congress comes after the recent split in the Congress following the exit of former Union Minister GK Vasan who has revived the Tamil Maanila Congress his father later G K Moopanar had founded, citing lack of respect for committed cadre.