Tamil Nadu Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil’s fast enters fourth day; Rahul calls him again

Chennai: Tiruvallur Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil has continued his indefinite fast into its fourth day demanding that the Union Government immediately release over Rs 2,152 crore withheld for Tamil Nadu under Samagra Shiksha, even as leaders from within the party and allies extended their support to him.

Though the Congress High Command in New Delhi is supporting Senthil’s strike with senior leaders like Rahul Gandhi and K C Venugopal speaking to him over the phone and appreciating his intentions, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief K Selvaperunthagai seems to be upset, yet again exposing the chinks within the already faction-ridden state unit.

Murmurs within the TNCC suggest that Senthil's fast is an attempt to dethrone Selvaperunthagai from his post. Ever since he was appointed as TNCC chief in February 2024, the Sriperumbudur MLA, who has switched many parties, has been facing internal dissent. Senthil, a former Karnataka-cadre IAS officer, was also in the race for the TNCC chief.

In fact, Selvaperunthagai’s appointment as TNCC chief was put on hold twice in 2023 due to protests from within the party but it was cleared on the eve of elections and understandably there was no opposition since everyone was focusing on the Lok Sabha polls.

Selvaperunthagai has been appealing to Senthil for the past two days to withdraw his fast since it will overshadow the ‘Vote Chori’ campaign by Rahul Gandhi – the state unit is organising a public rally on the issue in Tirunelveli, the home turf of state BJP chief Nainar Nagenthiran, on September 7.

However, Senthil is not relenting. He continues to hold fast from his bed at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) in Chennai, where she was shifted on August 30 following high blood pressure. Despite the TNCC chief’s displeasure at his fast, Senthil continues to receive support from his party leaders within and outside the state – Rahul Gandhi did call him for the second time on Monday to check on his health.

Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said the Congress salutes his efforts to fight for the right to quality education of every child and joined him in urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for immediate disbursement of SSA funds.

“You can’t hold the future of children over policy disputes. The BJP-ruled Centre has to release funds due to Tamil Nadu immediately. My intention is to expose the BJP and its attitude. If today I am an MP after serving as an IAS officer, it is only because of my education. So, no one should politicise education,” Senthil said on Monday. However, he remained silent over the request by the TNCC chief to call off his fast.

Senior TNCC leader Mohan Kumaramangalam supported Senthil saying though the vote chori campaign is important he appreciates the Congress MP for raising an issue that is very dear to the people of the state especially before the elections.

“Senthil is not relenting which means he has backing from the top. Every top leader from the Congress High Command has extended support to him and has spoken to him. This seems to be some kind of a message to the TNCC chief,” a senior Congress leader told DH.