VCK has grown into a formidable political force in T.N.: Thirumavalavan

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol. Thirumavalavan on Wednesday said the party has emerged as a force to reckon with in Tamil Nadu and all parties, including the DMK, the AIADMK and the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam need the VCK.

Speaking to reporters in Chidambaram, Mr. Thirumavalavan said the recent Assembly election result was not unexpected; rather it was a result he had anticipated. “We did not expect such a major political reversal,” he said.

The VCK, according to him, had become a formidable force in Tamil Nadu elections and he had earlier stated it would be a decisive force in the formation of power. The party had not yet contested independently to establish its exact vote share, but remained a significant political force.

He said parties such as the PMK, the MDMK and the DMDK had proved their vote share before entering into alliances, whereas the VCK continued in alliances without proving its vote strength separately. The VCK had never bargained for seats or positions, but still had become necessary for major parties in the State. This has made a few uneasy, and that is the reason they are trying to create an impression that the VCK was weakened, he said.

Mr. Thirumavalavan said the BJP’s vote share had dropped from 11% to 2.5% while the Naam Tamilar Katchi’s vote share declined from 8% to 4%. He also noted that the AIADMK had come down from 66 seats to 47, and the DMK had been reduced to 59 seats.

Those who do not criticise all this are building false narratives against the VCK on social media, claiming that the party has weakened. The party has grown into an unavoidable force without even contesting independently, he said.