Chennai, July 7;
VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan has said that the induction of a former VCK legislator into the DMK in the presence of former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin signalled the effective end of the political alliance between the two parties.
Rejecting allegations that the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) had betrayed the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, Mr. Thirumavalavan asserted that it was the DMK leadership, and not the VCK, that first declared there was no alliance.
Addressing the party’s 2026 awards function in Chennai on Sunday night, he dismissed accusations of backstabbing as politically motivated. “Who betrayed whom? Anyone with a conscience knows the truth. Everyone knows how sincere I am in friendship,” he said.
The VCK leader alleged that nearly two years ahead of the Assembly elections, efforts were made to persuade him to leave the alliance through political inducements. However, he said he refused all such offers as he had played a role in building the alliance and would not allow it to weaken.
Referring to earlier developments, Mr. Thirumavalavan said another political formation had publicly offered the VCK a share in power if it joined hands with them. Though the invitation was widely understood to be directed at his party, he chose not to accept it or forge a new alliance.
He also denied allegations that he had bargained for the post of Deputy Chief Minister or sought financial considerations before extending support to the ruling TVK. “Many are trying to weaken us and damage our leadership. I know who I am,” he said.
Without naming individuals, he added that he had refrained from revealing several political developments. “If I start speaking, many things will come out. I have chosen not to,” he remarked.
Defending the VCK’s decision to support the TVK, he said the party had informed the DMK leadership in advance about its stand and the reasons behind it.
While maintaining that his personal respect for Mr. Stalin remained unchanged, Mr. Thirumavalavan reiterated that it was the DMK leadership that had brought the political relationship to an end. He also challenged critics to provide evidence to support claims that the VCK had betrayed the alliance.