Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which won two seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on April 23, is yet to take its political stance on supporting the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) as suspense continues in the state over the formation of a new government.
The VCK contested the Assembly elections under the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance. She was offered eight seats to contest but won in two assembly segments, Kattumannarkoil and Tindivanam.
The two seats won by VCK are considered key to forming the government as actor-politician C Joseph Vijay has approached several parties including CPI, CPI(M) and VCK to seek their support to form the government.
TVK, which won 108 seats, sought support from several smaller camps to gain 118 seats in the 234-seat assembly. The CPI(M), which has two seats each, and the Congress, with five seats extended support to TVK.
TVK still needs an additional seat to obtain the majority needed to form the government.
Vijay and his senior party officials met Governor Rajendra Arlikar for three consecutive days seeking to form the government. However, Lok Bhavan in a statement clarified that TVK requires majority support in the Tamil Nadu Assembly which is necessary to form the government, which is yet to be determined.
VCK president Thul Thirumavalavan said based on the decision taken by the Left parties, he would announce their stand to support TVK after holding his party’s executive committee meeting.
However, CPI Tamil Nadu Secretary M Veerapandian while announcing his party’s support for TVK, said Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi will follow him as he told Thirumavavalavan that he will go along with the decision taken by the Left parties.
Later on Friday, as there were no communications from the VCK camp, a message from VCK legislator Fani Arasu appeared, saying: “Even if you try to marginalize us, push us away. We ourselves will decide that we are in the centre.”
“This is the time of Thiruma. (Thule Thirumavalavan). A share in rule, a share in power. In the afterlife, we will rise higher and higher,” he said in another post.
His statements indicated that his party would negotiate for the position of Deputy Prime Minister and a ministerial position in the TVK government after their support for TVK.
Read also:AMMK accuses Vijay’s TVK of “horse trading” over a “fake” letter of support.
However, on Saturday, Villupuram MP D Ravikumar of VCK appealed in a social media post that the reports being circulated alleging that VCK is seeking various posts and making demands to TVK are completely contrary to the truth.
“We ask the media not to give credence to such reports. We also urge the media not to be complicit in attempts to discredit the VCK.” said Ravikumar, who is also the party’s general secretary.
Thirumavalavan said on Friday that his party will make a formal announcement on his party’s position by 11 am by inviting the press on Saturday. However, as a large number of media, TVK members and police personnel gathered at the party office of the VCK, it was officially announced that they would announce their position later in the day.
Meanwhile, Vani Arasu said, “The party will adhere to the decision taken by Thul Thirumavalavan. The decision taken by our leader is the party’s stand. He has given the people a proper opportunity to participate in governance and power. VCK will always stand for the welfare and rights of Tamil Nadu.”
He continued: “Neither the party nor I criticized anyone personally. Our criticisms were only political. We do not accept the governor’s rule. We want to establish the rule of the people. The governor’s actions are in violation of the constitution.”
