VCK and Congress MPs question TNCC president’s decision to meet Ramadoss

Days after TNCC president K. Selvaperunthagai called on PMK founder S. Ramadoss at his residence in Villupuram, fuelling speculation about a potential alliance, party’s Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore and VCK general secretary and Villupuram MP, D. Ravikumar, questioned whether this was approved by the Congress high command.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Ravikumar ruled out any possibility of an alliance with any faction of the PMK, even if it splits due to the ongoing power struggle between Dr. Ramadoss and his son, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss. “I initially thought that the Congress high command might have reached out to Dr. Ramadoss, wanting to keep its options open. However, Congress leader Manickam Tagore has made it clear that it was not a decision of the high command,” he said.

Mr. Ravikumar clarified that the VCK would not tie up with any PMK faction. “We don’t care whether it is Dr. Ramadoss or Dr. Anbumani. We don’t see them as separate. Has Dr. Ramadoss spoken against the BJP?.. Even if their party is heading for a split, we won’t be part of the alliance that features either of them.”

He further said: “Such an alliance [VCK and PMK or its faction] won’t be fruitful; it won’t work at the grassroots level. Dr. Ramadoss was the one who fanned the flames of casteism. He was the one who tried to mobilise the non-Dalits against the Dalit community. We recognised him for what he did for social justice. But, the path he took has led to violence against Dalits and deaths. We will stand firm in our resolve to fight caste and religious polarisation.”

Meanwhile, Mr. Tagore tagged Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on X, and asked him how the PMK could be considered an ally of the INDIA bloc, when it has been supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi since 2014. “Why hurt those who stood with you through thick and thin, and continue to stand by People’s Leader @Rahul Gandhi in every battle? This can’t be a party decision — it seems purely personal,” he said in his post.

‘Don’t politicise it’

In his response, Mr. Selvaperunthagai said he had repeated several times that the meeting was not to discuss about any possibility of an alliance, and that he had simply enquired after Dr. Ramadoss’ health.

“I urge everyone to refrain from politicising or misrepresenting my meeting with Dr. Ramadoss. The attempts to portray it as a bid to form an alliance or see it as the Congress’ opposition to the VCK should stop. I consider Dr. Thol. Thirumavalavan as my elder brother. Any decision about new alliance partners will be taken by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. The All India Congress talks about uniting SC/ST/OBCs. Both the Congress and the VCK are united in opposing religious forces,” he said.