Ahead of joining TVK, Vijayabaskar distributes gift hamper to voters in Viralimalai

PUDUKOTTAI/CHENNAI: Former minister C Vijayabaskar, who resigned from AIADMK and from his MLA post, is likely to join the ruling Tamiliga Vettri Kazhagam on June 29. Ahead of his next political move and the bypoll in Viralimalai necessitated by his resignation, Vijayabaskar has begun distributing gift hampers to people in the constituency.Preparations are under way at a private hall in Chennai for Vijayabaskar’s induction into TVK. His team has been working overtime to make the event a grand one and to exhibit his political prowess. If the move goes through, Vijayabaskar will become the fifth AIADMK MLA to resign and join TVK.Sources close to the former minister said they have made elaborate arrangements to bring around 3,000 of his supporters, along with over 20 AIADMK district-level functionaries loyal to him, from Viralimalai and neighbouring constituencies for the formal induction programme.

“From transport to food, everything is being arranged,” a source said. On June 18, loyalists of Vijayabaskar convened a meeting in Pudukottai and passed a resolution saying that they were with him in his decision to join TVK. However, it remains uncertain whether he will be able to join the party in the presence of TVK leader and chief minister C Joseph Vijay. Though the TVK leadership is ready to welcome the former minister who is known for his political acumen and organising skills, they are concerned about his “tainted” image.

He has been facing a disproportionate assets case, a money laundering case, and gutkha scam cases. This would give the opposition a salvo to hit at Vijay, who has proclaimed that his govt will not spare anyone who touched the common man’s money and has guaranteed ‘clean governance’.

Meanwhile, Vijayabaskar is distributing gift hampers to nearly 80,000 households in Viralimalai, where he is expected to contest the bypoll on the TVK’s ‘whistle’ symbol. The gift hamper contains a stainless-steel container, a sweet box, a pen, and a letter thanking voters for their support, along with a promise that he would always “remain loyal” to them.