Thirumavalavan calls upon VCK cadre to “let go and move on”

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi founder and Chidambaram MP Thol. Thirumavalavan has appealed to the VCK supporters to “let go and move on” after the DMK leaders criticised the party for joining the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam-led State government’s Cabinet recently.

In a video message, Mr. Thirumavalavan said that the VCK was successful in its mission to defeat the National Democratic Alliance as part of the DMK alliance but added that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam became the single largest party.

“We assessed that the TVK would be splitting Christian community and Islamic community votes and that would affect the DMK alliance. It wouldn’t be able to form a government on its own but it would emerge as the single largest party. This is the reason why I decided to contest in the Assembly elections. I also assessed that...alliances would change based on TVK’s vote share...after the elections. Since it didn’t get a simple majority, it needed a few more seats to form the government. At this point, the DMK’s alliance partners, the Congress party in particular, decided to support the TVK immediately. I decided to follow the lead of the Left parties,” he said.

Mr. Thirumavalavan added that he had extended unconditional support to the TVK after the Left parties’ announced their decision to support the TVK.

“When I convened the high-level committee, the party’s seniors said that if we are supporting the TVK, we should join the Cabinet. Next day, on May 9, we decided to do what the Left parties did. I was slandered that I was haggling with the TVK...that I wanted to become the Deputy Chief Minister or waiting to become the Chief Minister. We took a decision to join the Cabinet only after our comrades insisted that we must take part in the Cabinet and in particular that I become a minister,” he said.

Mr. Thirumavalavan said that DMK president M.K. Stalin and former deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin would acknowledge the VCK’s contribution to the DMK alliance over the last 10 years.

“However, DMK leaders like A. Raja are criticising us. We are pained...but we understand their point of view as well. The DMK cadre will not be able to accept the VCK joining hands with the TVK, which has severely criticised the DMK. The DMK president had urged them not to use harsh words. At this point, it is not necessary for our cadre to criticise the DMK harshly. The VCK cadre should focus on strengthening our party and move on from this. Those who don’t like us will keep criticising us,” he said, adding, “We will be criticised whether we are with the DMK or joined another alliance.”

Mr. Thirumavalavan said that the vote share of all parties has reduced and moved to the TVK, and that the VCK is being unfairly targetted. “Our vote bank has been transferred to our alliance partners.”

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