Rajaji- Kamaraj Rift
The British govemment had banned congress for launching the Quit India Movement in 1942, which it believed, had endangered British interests in the Asian theater of the
Second World War.
At the end of the war the imprisoned Congressmen came to be released though the ban on the party was not immediately lifted. These released congresmen including C.N. Muthuranga Mudaliyar and Bhakthavachalam redirected the congress activities under the name of a new organization titled as Congress Sangam.
Under the presidentship of S.K. PatIl these released congressmen convened a conference at Ariyalur to discuss the organizational priorities of the party.
A resolution was moved at this conference seeking to throw out of congress party those leaders who did not remain part of the 1942 Quit India Movement, in the hour of grave crisis for the party and those who supported the colonial interests.
The resolution was passed with a overwhelming majority as it was supported by 670 members and was opposed by a paltry number of four members.
The resolution and the conference were considered by Rajaji and his band of loyalists as essentially directed against him.
It is pertinent to remember here that Rajaji
remained opposed against the August resolution and disobeyed the directives of the Congress Working Committee to participate in the Quit India Movement.
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Moreover,during the interwar period Rajaji actively associated himself with the British govemment
and more disappointingly for congress , authored the Rajaji Plan, which pemitted the partition of the country along communal lines and visualized the creation of Pakistan
from the truncated parts of India.
Amidst these anti congress activities the Congress Working Committee delegated the decision on Rajaji's indiscipline to the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
Its president Kamaraj even insisted on the withdrawal of four anna membership of Rajaji.
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Though Kamaraj was in jail in Amaroti at the time of Ariyalur conference of Congress Sangam , there was a clear manifestation of the ire of the rank and file of the
congress against the political demeanor of Rajaji during the interwar period.
The Congress party oriented students conducted a massive conference in Madurai opposing any move towards the readmission of Rajaji into congress.
But isolated Rajaji attempted to bring about rapprochement with Kamaraj and through the efforts of some common friends a meeting was arranged in Rajaji 's house where he suggested to Kamaraj that both of them should undertake a joint tour in TamilNadu to dispel the impressions of any serious disagreement between them.
Though Kamaraj expressed his formal concurrence with that suggestion, in practice through the strategy of procrastination avoided any such tour primarily because his own supporters were not enthusiastic but lukewann to such a joint endeavor.
A few days after the rendezvous in Rajaji's house, Kamaraj went to his hometown of Virudhunagar and it was expected that his return would be within a week and after that a joint tour would be undertaken.
But to his horror and amazement the newspapers reported that Rajaji had been elected to the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee from Tiruchengode, a place where Rajaji had enduring association since the establishment of
his Ashram many years ago.
Kamaraj was surprised that without achieving primary membership of the party how an expelled member could be elected to the provincial congress committee especially he as the president of TNCC did not know anything about it.
As a result in a mood of rejoinder he immediately issued a statement to the press challenging the validity of the election supposedly held in Tiruchengode.
The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee convened a conference in Madurai to deliberate on the issue of Tiruchengode election of Rajaji.
The conference was important as it was the first meeting of the provincial congress committee to be organized since the passage of the August Resolution 1942. As a preemptory strategy, the Rajaji group sent a Jetter to the office of the Provincial Congress Committee signed by 80 members recommending that Rajaji should be invited back to congress party so that his skilful leadership could be utilized for the benefit of the party and people in the province.
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The Kamaraj group was incensed over this letter and organized a Provincial Workers Conference one day ahead of the scheduled official conference on October 30,
1945.
The staunch member of Kamaraj group Chidampara Bharathi organized this conference to demonstrate the strength of anti-Rajaji sentiments. In the deliberations
Muthuramalinga Thevar, Muthuranga Mudaliyar, Meenchur Bhakthavachalam etc.,
expressed their steadfast resolve against the admission of Rajaji as it would have a deleterious impact on the culture of discipline in the party.
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In the discussions of this conference Bhakthavachalam argued that even if the claimed admittance of Rajaji into congress had some validity or confomity to
congress rules , his election from Tiruchengode was invalid as the party constitution clearly stated that only those who demonstrated a minimum period of three years of
continuous service to the party could be elected to the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
C.N. Muthuranga Mudaliyar another ardent supporter of Kamaraj argued that there were 3 7 vacancies in the provincial congress and how an election could be conducted in Tiruchengode alone that too in a manner shrouded in mystery and even the president of
Provincial Congress Committee did not know anything about it.
A massive vote against Rajaji's entry and leadership by some 1400 to 100 votes at this special provincial workers conference was passed and later submitted in the form of
indictment to the representative of the congress High Command for the past and present behaviour of Rajaji
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An umpteen number of placards and pamphlets were issued against Rajaji's political career.
These Kamaraj's followers approached the high command against any move to satisfy Rajaji's desire to become a member of congress party.
One Mrs. KrishnabaiNimbkar wrote to the congress secretary Acharya Kripalani.
"He has deliberately been instrumental in crippling the public life of the province. His obsessions have been so great that even the sense of shame attendant to the part he has been playing seems to have left him. The faith of the whole province will be shattered if the Working
Committee fails to rise to the occasion late then never .... The prestige of the Working Committee
and the Indian National Congress will become more firmly entrenched among the people of the .South if it shows the courage to discipline even a Rajaji ".
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The president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee ruling out the validity of Rajaji 's election wrote to Maulana Abdul Kalam Azhd, the president of congress in 1945
'"you are aware that during the last three years Sri C. Rajagopalachariar had been strong opponent of
the August Resolution and the consequent resistance movement of congressmen and had been openly advocating the acceptance of the rejected Cripps offer, surrender to the government and acceptance of office in the province on any terms. He. joining hands with the
communists openly dissuaded the studets of Madras even against observing hartals on the arrest
of the leaders and pleaded with a few members of the Congress Legislative Party in Madras to form a group and.form the ministry.
Sri. C. Rajagopalachaiar has been consistently condemning the congress programmes and policies and openly inciting others against congress. Even as recently as early September (this month). he was reported to have advised an audience in Tiruchirapalli at a public meeting that at the ensuing elections to the legislature, people should not be carried away by the colour of
the box:es. referring to the colour box voting system and voting by party labels. but that they should look at the personality of the individual candidates seeking the election. This being the persistent attitude of Sri Rajagopalachariar, congressmen in Tamil Nadu feel themselves unable to take him as one of them.
In the circumstances stated above, the correspondence that is reported to have passed between Sri Rajagopalchariar and yourself has caused no surprise and misgiving. While we are always willing to be guided by you, we are bound to expect that you will at least consult our committee before doing anything with reference to the taking back of Sri CR. into the congress
. I would also like to inform you regarding your invitation to him to attend the meeting of the Congress Working Committee in Poona, that Sri. C.Rajagopalachariar should not be deemed to
represent. in any way the Tamil Nadu Congress ".
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Similarly another opponent of Rajaji, Muthuranga Mudaliyar wrote to Azad. " ...
Rajaji 's alleged election to the Provincial Congress Committee was wholly irregular and void not
merely on technical grounds but also on substantive grounds. The contention of the Tamil Nadu
Congress Committee, since confirmed by the General Body of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee is that no election has taken place at all. And we cannot distinguish prominent leaders from ordinar congressmen in applying the rules of the congress constitution . ... Now the
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee is not against Rajaji 's
entry into the congress. In fact. our
president in his opening speech, made a statement welcoming Rajaji back into the congress and
seeking his cooperation for the work before us. But neither the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee nor the 'bulk of the congress workers in Tamil Nadu has any confidence in Rajaji 's leadership. Both his past and present attitude and conduct only tend to alienate .further the feelings of
congress workers towards him".
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The vehement reaction of these congressmen from Tamil Nadu against Rajaji became increasingly shrill as Rajaji bypassing the local congress where his strength was
not appreciable , straight away established communication with high command of the party.
His extensive links with the congress party at the higher corridors of power became handy for him. His group after a secret meeting in Seerkali, a small town in the cauvery delta decided to approach the Congress Working Committee.
They dispatched T.S.S. Rajan to Calcutta to seek the support of the Congress Working Committee and in response Asaf Ali was sent south to sort out these paralyzing rivalries within the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
In spite of the registration of vehement protest Asaf Ali concluded in favour of Rajaji and said that the election of Mr.C. Rajagopalachariar to the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee from Tiruchengode should
be decreed valid unless a duly constituted Election Tribunal under Article VIII and XI of the congress committee set it aside.
He also said conclusively that such a Parliamentary Board should contain eight representatives and at least 3 of Rajaji men should be included. That Tribunal was duly
constituted later and it had the following members. The president of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee Kamaraj, Rukmani Lakshmipathi, C.N. Muthuranga Mudaliyar,
Omandur Ramasamy Reddiar, Avinashilingam Chettiar are the five members from the Kamaraj faction and the remaining members were loyal to Rajaji.
Mahatma Gandhi's Visit
The last visit of Gandhiji to Tamil Nadu proved to be a source of increasing divergence between Rajaji and Kamaraj.
In 1946 Gandhiji came to Madras Presidency to preside
over the annual day celebration of the Hindi Prachar Shaba. The visit also included his pilgrimage to the holy cities of Madurai and Palani. The tour became controversial as it tumed out to be medium of manifestation of the paralyzing factionalism in the Provincial
Congress Committee.
The Rajaji group secretly shielded the entire schedule of the tour away from the knowledge of Kamaraj himself, the president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
The details about the time and place of Gandhii's arrival, stay and departure in Madras were kept shrouded in mystery by Rajaji group so as to exclude any association
of Kamaraj with Gandhiji.
In its zeal to utilize the closeness to Gandhiji it withheld this infomation from the knowledge of the president of the provincial congress committee,Rajaji along with his supporters like N. Gopalasamy lyangar and the secretary of Hindi Prachar Shaba Sathyanarayanan went to receive Gandhiji at the Ambattur Railway station.
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Meanwhile the details about Gandhiji's programmes were leaked out to Kamaraj by one of his journalist friends Ganapathy and an alerted Kamaraj went on time to
Ambattur to receive the Mahatma.
Rajaji was a bit bewildered and annoyed by the arrival of Kamaraj and consciously attempted to avoid introducing the president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee to the visiting dignitary.
Gandhiji's tour lasted seven days in Tamil Nadu and on 02.02.1946 he departed in a special train from Kattupakkam railway station to have a holy darshan at the pilgrimage centres of Madurai and Palani.
Traveling in the same time were Rajaji, Kamaraj and a group of journalists.
The train had halts at Acharapakkam and Tindivanam and Gandhiji addressed multitudinous gatherings of people. He spoke profusely praising Rajaji saying that he was going to these temples in appreciation of the historical fact that Rajaji had opened these temples to all people through legislation passed during his premiership of Madras presidency. He extolled copiously the contributions of Rajaji to the temple entry movement and the untouchability eradication in Tamil Nadu.
The train traveled from Vilupuram, Viruthachalam, Ariyalur and Trichy to reach Madurai where Gandhiji spoke to a mammoth gathering and later went to worship at the
temples.
There while climbing the stairs of the Palani shrine Rajaji suddently albeit belatedly introduced Kamaraj to Gandhiji stating rather awkwardly that he was Kamaraj
the President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
With deliberate intention he hesitated to introduce Kamaraj to Gandhiji either in Madras or throughout the journey to Madurai lasting more than 450 kilometers though Kamaraj was traveling in the same time was the strong suspicion of Kamaraj group.
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ln the retum journey too ,Kamaraj was prevented from developing any rapport with Gandhiji.
He was intentionally kept in the dark about the time of departure of the Gandhiji and hence Kamaraj missed the train departing with Gandhiji from Madurai in the retum direction.
He traveled in a car to reach Dindigul the next station and boarded the train from there. Thus for around seven long days Gandhiji was in Madras Presidency and the Rajaji faction kept him away from the approach and reach of the rival Kamaraj faction.
But when Gandhiji reached the Wardha Ashram he wrote the letter in the Harijan on I 0-02-1946 under the caption CURIOUS setting of a major controversy.
In that article while paying a tribute to Rajaji Gandhiji said that he was pained to find a clique working against him.
"It is a clique that evidently counts in the official congress in Madras ... but the masses are devoted to Rajaji. I am neither vain nor foolish enough to feel that I could have had the huge public demonstrations all along the route of the pilgrimage if he had no influence with the masses in Tamilnadu. Congressmen will act as they think best. But I would be less than loyal to the organization if I did not warn them against losing the valuable services which no one can shoulder as Rajaji can at the present moment".
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In the same article Gandhiji denied that his visit had anything to do with Rajaji's political future.
Yet when he was asked about the prospects of Madras premiership,without tentativeness Gandhji said "Rajaji was by for the best man for the purpose in the Southern Presidency and if I had the disposal in my hands I would call Rajaji to office, if I did not give it to myself'.
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This statement precipitated a grave crisis in the provincial congress in Madras as Kamaraj rightly felt that reference to a clique by Gandhiji was a reflection on himself and
his colleagues in the TNCC executive and promptly tendered his resignation from the Tamil Nadu Congress Parliamentary Board.
Deeply wounded by the indirect reference by Gandhiji Kamaraj declined to continue as the president of TNCC as he rightly interpreted that remark as an indication of absence of confidence in his capacity.
In his explanation Kamrajar said
'I am the official head of the Tamil Nadu Congress. According to the constitution I nominated the Working Committee. Therefore Gandhji 's
references can only be applicable to me. I have paid my respects to Gandhiji in person and I have been in his calling distance in Madras during his Tamil Nadu tour. So have been many of the other members of our Working Committee. It pains me much that Gandhiji did not talk to us anyrhing ahout Tamil Nadu Congress affairs while he was here. His use of the word. 'clique' affects me deeply.
Neither I nor my colleagues believe in the parliamentmy programme except as a means to further the country's struggle for freedom. I had made my position clear on dozens of platforms since my release. At any rate I am no aspirer to any kind of office under theparliamentmy activities.
As for the public agitation against Rajaji it is only a reaction among congressmen and the public to Rajaji 's actions and speeches since his Pakistan resolution and resignation from the congress. But after Gandhiji 's recent article I feel I can do nothing else than resign from the
parliamentmy Board, because all the conflict has come about only on account of the parliamentmy programme. "Four of my colleagues, messors TS. Avinashilingam, C.N.
Muyhu ranga Mudhaliar, O.P. Ramasamy Reddiar and Mrs. Rukmani Lakshmipathy felt compelled to quit also. I have persuaded them to remain for the ve1y simple reason that the short time available for the election work ahead would not admit of such wholesale resignations. I thank rhem for the spirit in which they have agreed to continue on the Board. They would certainlv have been within their rights if they had followed my example. But they and I do not want disturb the election work. For my part I can not but quit. For twenty years Gandh(ji has been the leader whom I have unwarvingly followed and my faith in him continues unabated. That I should occasion himpain drives me to take the action I have decided to take. I assure everybody concerned that whatever decision taken by the board here or at the centre will command my wholehearted acceptance ··.
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Dr. Varadharaja Naidu, a member of the Kamaraj faction wrote a letter to Gandh ij i as a reaction to his "clique" statement.
"Kamaraj works in the south for the implementation of the Gandhian ,programmes of the congress party with unparalleled enthusiasm and dedication. He has
risen through his selfless service to be one of the front ranking leaders of the congress party. Your statement, about Kamaraj and his colleagues as a clique is not reflective of reality. We humbly request you not to interfere in this fashion in the internal affairs of the congress party in the state".
Immediately Gandhiji wrote a reply to Dr. Varadharajalu Naidu stating that hereafter he would not interfere in the Nadar's affair.
Meanwhile Pattabhi Seetharamaiya also met Gandhiji and apprised him of the reality in the affairs of the
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.
Gandhiji commented on Kamaraj's decision in Harijan
and defended his use of the epithet clique by stating that he used it with the meaning found in the dictionary. He appealed to Kamaraj to withdraw his resignation and
subsequently he received letters of discontent from other Congressmen in Tamil Nadu on his statement. On 24-02-1946 Gandhiji, in an article in his Harijan accepted that
"I must admit that I did not talk to those who were with me in the special train".
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