The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a long-time ally of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), on Saturday pulled out of the Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), citing a post-poll tie-up with the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), while noting that a decision on the renewed electoral alliance will be taken after the dates for the by-polls and local body polls are announced.
This comes after the SPA dealt a blow following the Congress Party’s support for TVK to form the government in Tamil Nadu, marking a major shift in political loyalty in the state.
At the party’s general council meeting held on Saturday in Chennai, the IDF passed 14 resolutions, including stopping association with the DMK-led alliance.
“Respecting the judgment of the people in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has extended its support to TVK to form the government and is currently part of the Joseph Vijay-led government. Given today’s political climate, we cannot continue our journey in the DMK alliance. This meeting resolves that a decision on the electoral alliance will be taken once the by-elections and local body elections are announced,” the resolution said.
IUML President K. M. Khader Mohiuddin, his party’s journey within the alliance, said: “After a long time, two members of the IUML have found a place in the state assembly in Tamil Nadu… Whether we win on behalf of the IUML in the local body elections, the legislative council elections, or the parliamentary elections, we have only achieved victories within the DMK alliance so far.”
Confirming that his party decided to support after holding negotiations with Stalin and party supporters, Muhyiddin said, “We did not put any conditions on TVK and the only reason we decided to support TVK is to ensure that President’s rule is not imposed in Tamil Nadu.”
TVK won 108 parliamentary sectors but fell short of the mandatory 118 seats required to form the government. It received support from the Congress Party, which won five seats in the assembly, the Communist Party of India, the Communist Party of India (Maoist), the Viduthalai Chiruthigal Katchi (VCK) Party, and the Indian Muslim League, which each won two seats.
After the poll results were announced, even though they decided to support the TVK government without any conditions, IUML MLA AM Shahjahan was appointed Minister for Minority Welfare.
Meanwhile, reacting to the development, DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan said, “They (IUML) have already withdrawn and joined the TVK alliance and even got a ministerial post. What can we do? Our relationship with IUML since the Quaid-E-Millath days has been very long. Now, that they have withdrawn, what can we do? It will not help them.”
