Tamil Nadu Vazhvurimai Party Breaks Away from DMK Alliance Over Seat-Sharing Disputes
TNVP's Departure from DMK Coalition
Chennai: In a notable development ahead of the Assembly elections, T. Velmurugan, the founder and leader of the Tamil Nadu Vazhvurimai Party (TNVP), declared on Sunday that his party would be leaving the DMK-led alliance. This decision stems from dissatisfaction regarding seat-sharing negotiations and the state government's failure to address crucial social justice issues.
Velmurugan, who previously secured a victory in the Panruti constituency during the 2021 Assembly elections under the DMK's Rising Sun symbol, had requested at least two constituencies and the option to contest under a distinct party symbol this time.
However, the DMK reportedly offered only a single seat, leading to unrest within the TNVP ranks.
The situation intensified when Velmurugan presented a list of ten demands to the DMK leadership, stating that his party would only consider remaining in the alliance if these were met and acted upon by the government.
Key demands included a 10.5% internal reservation for the Vanniyar community, prioritization of Tamils for all state government positions, and the initiation of a caste-based census in Tamil Nadu.
In announcing his party's departure, Velmurugan accused the DMK government of consistently disregarding the issues raised by his party, both in the Assembly and beyond.
"We have made numerous requests to the government, but none have been taken seriously. Although the government has changed, the ground realities remain unchanged," he stated to the media.
He also criticized the DMK for not taking tangible actions towards conducting a caste-based census, questioning its dedication to social justice. "What has been in place is the dominance of certain classes. How can the DMK profess to support social justice while ignoring these fundamental issues?" he queried.
Regarding his party's future political strategy, Velmurugan dismissed any chance of aligning with the BJP-led coalition. Instead, he indicated that the TNVP would seek collaborations with parties willing to acknowledge and implement its demands.
He mentioned that discussions are already in progress, with a final decision on potential alliances expected to be revealed soon.