Palaniswami did not agree to the idea of making Thirumavalavan the Chief Minister, claims Shanmugam

AIADMK rebel leader C.Ve. Shanmugam, on Wednesday claimed the party general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami had turned down the idea of making the Viduthalai Chriuthaigal Katchi (VCK)’s founder  Thol. Thirumavalavan the Chief Minister (with support from AIADMK and DMK).

Emphasising there was an “unimaginable opportunity” for Tamil Nadu to have the Chief Minister from the downtrodden community of Scheduled Castes, Mr Shanmugam told reporters at his office on Karpagam Avenue, Chennai, that the proposal was mooted by the DMK and the VCK would be supported by the Left parties.  According to the proposal, barring Mr Thirumavalavan, others in the Cabinet would be from the AIADMK. 

“This was what was discussed in our last meeting with him [Mr Palaniswami], for which a photograph was also issued [on Saturday last],” the former Minister observed, adding that the proposal was acceptable, as there would be “no direct contact” with the DMK.  However, the AIADMK chief had told them that “either I would become Chief Minister or let us all sit in the Opposition benches,” Mr Shanmugam recounted.