Thiruma Wanted To Prevent President’s Rule

Chennai: Announcing his party’s decision to extend support to the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) in the formation of the next government in the state, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan said on Saturday that the move is to prevent the imposition of President’s rule in Tamil Nadu and ensure that the duty of the people is fulfilled.

Speaking to the media on Saturday after handing over the letter expressing his party’s support for TVK to the party’s general secretary Aadhav Arjuna, the VCK chief said it was imperative for the VCK to support TVK given the ongoing uncertainty in the government formation.

He said the TVK does not have the simple majority to form a government on its own but no other political party has support close to the minimum number of 118 MLAs.

Thirumavalavan said his party’s decision was in line with the decision of the two Left parties in the state and it would not affect its ties with the DMK as the decision to support TVK had already been conveyed to DMK president MK Stalin. He said that VCK, as a political party, exercised its freedom to take the decision to extend unconditional support to TVK, keeping in mind the long-term welfare of the state and remains a part of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.

Due to the upcoming political crisis, the left parties and the VCK held separate meetings with the party leaders and reached a consensus, taking into account a long-term political perspective and future political evaluations. All the three parties had given letters of support to the TVK, he said, adding that the VCK did not want to be a stumbling block in the formation of the new government by TVK.

While Vijay expressed his desire to visit the VCK office to thank party leaders for their support, Thirumavalavan asked him to do it after the swearing-in ceremony. CPI general secretary M Veerapandian, who was also present at the media conference, urged the Governor to follow the rules and help form the new government as soon as possible.

Following VCK’s decision to support Vijay, another DMK ally, IUML also issued a letter extending its support to TVK. Since both IUML and VCK had two MLAs each, support for TVK increased to 120 seats; That’s two more than the minimum 118 seats needed for a simple majority in the 234-member House.

In addition to the 108 seats won by TVK in the April 23 elections, the results of which were announced on May 4, the Congress with 5 seats and the CPI and CPM with two seats each also promised their support.