Former union minister GK Vasan today quit the Congress, adding to the travails of the party.

“We will chart a new course and approach to present an alternative to the two Dravidian parties,” Vasan announced at a press conference.

The main reason for quitting the Congress, Vasan said, was the fact that AICC had acted against the interests of Tamil Nadu unit and the sentiments of its workers.“Congress has not been in power in Tamil Nadu for the past 47 years. My aim is to bring an alternative to the Dravidian parties in the state. Our effort will be to strengthen the regional party we are floating. The name and flag of the party would be announced in a few days," he added.

He is widely expected to revive the Tamil Manila Congress founded by his father, GK Moopanar in 1996 along with P Chidambaram. Vasan as the president of the TMC had merged it with the Congress in 2002. But the name may not be available for Vasan as it was registered by Chidambaram, sources said.

Much before resigning from the post of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president, BS Gnanadesikan in a chat with this correspondent had said, “The Congress requires a long-term vision. Nine years we were with DMK. We wasted those nine years. Congress never thought we would have to contest polls alone (last Lok Sabha elections Congress contested alone after DMK snapped ties with Congress). We must always have the attitude of going alone and should take alliance as and when it comes. That should be the strategy. But here it is reverse. I also feel at times we have taken wrong decisions. In case of alliance also, in the last to last polls if we would have chosen AIADMK, we would have been in a better position. AIADMK approached us but compulsion from Delhi made us go with DMK and we lost miserably.” Gnanadesikan last week resigned from the post over differences with All India Congress Committee (AICC).