Chennai, May 13:
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol Thirumavalavan on Tuesday said that the prospect of a Dalit becoming Chief Minister in Tamil Nadu may remain a distant dream even after a hundred years, underlining the deep-rooted social barriers that persist in the State’s political landscape.
Clarifying speculation over attempts to project him for the Chief Minister’s post, Thirumavalavan stated that neither the DMK nor the AIADMK had officially approached him. He added that he had not held any discussions with political parties on the matter, even as reports suggesting such possibilities gained traction in sections of the media.
The VCK leader said journalists had earlier asked him whether the Congress had blocked efforts to elevate him to the top post. In response, he acknowledged that he had heard about such discussions through informal channels, including from some of his close associates, but reiterated that there was no formal communication from any political formation.
Expressing concern over the manner in which his remarks were being portrayed, Thirumavalavan accused sections of the media of sensationalising his response. He said his comments were made in a specific context, based on circulating reports, and should not be misinterpreted or presented with altered meaning.
Describing it as a “bitter truth,” Thirumavalavan said Tamil society was yet to fully accept the idea of a Dalit occupying the Chief Minister’s post. His remarks have once again brought attention to the continuing influence of caste dynamics in shaping political opportunities, even as Tamil Nadu has long projected itself as a State with a strong social justice legacy.