Chennai, Sept 12:
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol. Thirumavalavan has blamed the DMK’s approach towards its alliance partners for the collapse of the DMK-led alliance ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
Speaking at a wedding function, Thirumavalavan said he had made every effort to preserve the DMK alliance and had not left it for any political post. He said the DMK failed to maintain a healthy relationship with Congress and the Left parties, which eventually led to their exit.
Thirumavalavan particularly questioned the DMK’s decision to bring the DMDK into the alliance at the last minute.
He asked whether the existing alliance partners would have been happy when a new party was suddenly brought into the alliance and was offered a significant number of seats, while parties that had travelled with the DMK for a long time faced reductions in their share.
He also questioned why the MDMK was not allowed to contest on its own symbol and why adequate seats were not given to Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needhi Maiam.
According to Thirumavalavan, these decisions created dissatisfaction among the existing alliance partners. He said the responsibility for maintaining harmony and trust within an alliance rests primarily with the party leading it.
Thirumavalavan rejected the argument that VCK voluntarily walked out of the DMK alliance.
“The DMK abandoned us; we did not leave the alliance,” he said, arguing that the lack of goodwill between the DMK and its partners was the main reason for the breakdown.
He said that if the DMK had maintained a good relationship with Congress, there would have been no reason for Congress to leave the alliance. He also said the Left parties and other allies had similar grievances over the DMK’s approach during seat-sharing and election preparations.
Thirumavalavan further rejected allegations that he moved towards the TVK-led alliance because he was seeking a ministerial position. He said that if he had been interested in power, he would have left the DMK alliance when Congress itself walked out.
He said his decision to support the TVK government later was also linked to long-time VCK colleague Vanniarasu and the opportunity for a person from an ordinary family to enter the Cabinet.
Thirumavalavan also said the DMK underestimated Vijay and the strength of the TVK, which contributed to its electoral setback. He maintained that the subsequent VCK support for the TVK was not driven by personal ambition but by political circumstances.