Latest news with #Thirumavalavan
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
EPS saying AIADMK will have majority win shows party's conflict with BJP: Thirumavalavan
VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan has seen an inherent conflict between the AIADMK and the BJP on whether they would form a coalition government, if they win next year's Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. 'While Union Home Minister Amit Shah is repeating there will be a coalition government, AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami has made it clear that his party will win with a majority (hinting it will form a single party rule),' he said. Addressing a public meeting at Melavalavu near Madurai on Monday to mark the anniversary of 'Melavalavu massacre', in which seven Scheduled Caste people, including panchayat president Murugesan, were murdered decades ago, he pointed to Mr. Palaniswami's statement that no party could gobble up the AIADMK, and said the AIADMK leader was referring to the BJP attempting to undermine his party. 'If it was about the DMK, he (Palaniswami) cannot say 'gobble up' as the DMK only thinks of defeating the AIADMK electorally. Only the BJP is planning to disrupt the opposition party to put it as a replacement,' he charged. Welcoming AIADMK's position of not losing their uniqueness in dealing with the BJP, he said the repeated instances showed that there was an ongoing conflict between them. He said everyone was preying upon the VCK to get a hint of disruption in the DMK alliance, but that would not happen as their alliance was to save the State from Hindutva organisations. Commenting on the Hindu Munnani's mocking video on former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai and Periyar E.V. Ramasamy during the recent Muruga Bhakthargalin Aanmeega Maanadu in Madurai, Mr. Thirumavalavan said the 'Sangh' could never criticise or mock Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. 'Though everyone knows they have a hidden agenda, they try to portray B.R. Ambedkar as their guiding light,' he added. Starting from BJP's win in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party had been trying to alter the Constitution. 'Martyrs like Murugesan, who lost their life to the brutal violence staged by caste Hindus, fought for their right to become the panchayat president,' he added. Mr. Thirumavalavan said Murugesan stood for his rights despite being aware of the consequences. 'But our struggle should not just stop with winning a panchayat president seat, but it should expand to rule the country, that is when our struggle will have a meaning,' he said. The VCK, which was started as a social organisation, had never fallen for the offer of more seats in an alliance. The party's aim was not just to attain political power but to educate people and politicise them. 'When other parties can feel proud of winning seats and earning money, we can proclaim that we have politicised people about their rights and role in society,' Mr. Thirumavalavan added.
The Hindu
24-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
We are worried AIADMK is making a historic mistake: Thirumavalavan
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol Thirumavalavan on Tuesday expressed concern over the political course the AIADMK has taken. 'We are worried that AIADMK is making a historic mistake. We will not allow them (Hindutva forces) to poison this land. Many are trying to divert Tamil Nadu towards Hindutva politics. Many who speak fake Tamil nationalism also are speaking in the same tone. We should not give space for that,' he said in Chennai. The VCK leader feared the AIADMK cadres are being turned into RSS activists. His remarks came against the backdrop of the recent Murugan Devotees conference held by the Hindu Munnani in Madurai in which AIADMK leaders had also participated. Participating at a function organised by his party to bestow awards on various personalities, he said B. R. Ambedkar was instrumental in ensuring that Hinduism, 'which does not foster brotherhood within', was not declared as the State religion in India. Mr. Thirumavalavan asked if those accusing him of erasing 'sacred ash' on his forehead were ready to protest in favour of Scheduled Castes who are not being allowed inside temple (Droupathi Amman temple) in Melpathi in Villupuram. 'I accepted sacred ash because it was offered. Can I sport it always? I didn't accept it because I would get good Karma nor did I want to insult the gesture,' he said. Mr. Thirumavalavan said, 'I am not asking you to accept me as your just accept me as your brother.' 'Tamil land has five types of landscape and Murugan, who hails from Kurinji is the leader. He was born like us, lived like us and ruled the people. We have literature to support this. But he has been turned into 'Subramanian'. No Brahmin will name their children as Murugan - they will name them Subramanian or Skandan. Murugan from Sangam literature is different from the mythology,' he contended. Mr. Thirumavalavan said, 'How can I sit and watch as the follower of Dr. Ambedkar and Periyar (E V Ramasamy) when our identity and history is stolen and new stories and identity are created to discriminate and divide us? We haven't started a party just to go to and State assembly.' Dr. K. S. Chalam, former VC, Dravidian University (Ambedkar Sudar awardee), actor Sathyaraj (Periyar Oli), Thozhar Thiyagu (Marx Mamani), Dr. Pa. Jambulingam (Iyotheethasar Adhavan), V. Vaithilingam former CM, Puducherry (Kamarajar Kathir), Tamil scholar Prof. A. Shanmugadas (Semmozhi Gnayiru), P.A. Kaja Moinudeen Bagavi (Quaid-E-Millath Pirai) received awards.
The Print
20-06-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Political prudence or just pressure? DMK allies turn up heat over seat-sharing before Tamil Nadu polls
While Thirumalavalan played it down as just a friendly meeting, Vaigaichelvan said the meeting marked the beginning of the unravelling of the DMK-led alliance. VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, who has been pressing for more seats, went a step further, meeting opposition AIADMK MLA and former minister Vaigaichelvan who visited him at his residence on 16 June. Chennai: With assembly elections in Tamil Nadu just about 10 months away, allies of the ruling DMK in the state including the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) have started mounting pressure on the senior partner to give them more seats to contest the polls. 'The DMK alliance has developed cracks and it is just the beginning. You will see more parties having discussions with the AIADMK,' Vaigaichelvan told reporters in Chennai on 18 June when asked about the meeting. Hours later, addressing a public meeting in Madurai, Thirumavalavan said while VCK is not averse to the idea of joining the AIADMK-led alliance, 'the alliance also has BJP and the PMK, which would not go well with us.' 'VCK will not be part of any alliance where BJP and the PMK are there,' he declared. Thirumavalavan and CPI(M) state secretary P. Shanmugam have said on multiple occasions that they would definitely demand more seats from DMK. CPI state secretary P. Mutharasan told ThePrint they too want more seats. 'But, demanding and negotiating the seats are supposed to happen discreetly between parties. It should not be discussed with the media like how other alliance partners are doing,' he said. Asked about it, DMK spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan said it was for Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to decide who gets how many seats in the alliance. 'Our leader will not let anybody be unhappy in the state. Alliance leaders will also be treated in the same manner.' In the 2011 assembly elections, DMK contested 119 of the 234 seats. Its ally Congress was given 63 seats, while VCK and CPI were allocated 10 each, and the CPI(M) 12. While CPI won one seat with a vote share of 1.49 percent, CPI(M) didn't win any, though it did corner 2.22 percent votes. The Congress managed to win five seats with a vote share of 9.31 percent percent, while VCK won two seats with a vote share of 1.51 percent. In the 2016 assembly elections, VCK, CPI, CPI(M) and other parties formed a third front and contested separately but did not secure any seat, and their vote percentage was also under one percent. The Congress, which was part of the DMK-led alliance, contested 41 seats and won eight, securing 6.42 percent votes. In 2021, VCK, CPI and CPI(M) contested the assembly elections as DMK allies and were allotted six seats each. While CPI and CPI(M) won two seats each, VCK won four. The Congress contested 25 seats and won 18, securing 4.29 percent votes, compared to CPI(M)'s 1.13 percent, CPI's 1.10 percent and VCK's 1.01 percent. Also Read: Stalin's face front & centre, I-PAC hits ground running to shape DMK campaign for 2026 polls 'Just a pressure tactic' Political analyst P. Sigamani told ThePrint it was just a pressure-building tactic by smaller parties so they can bargain a better deal during seat-sharing talks with senior allies. But it would not have any bearing on the larger alliance. 'The DMK-led alliance is a tested and proven alliance that would win the elections, be it parliament or assembly or even the local body. Hence, there is no chance of the alliance breaking. But, these demands in public would give them a leverage to (potentially) get more seats in the upcoming assembly election,' Sigamani told ThePrint. 'If political parties that have increased their vote share and their presence over the years and they demand more seats, it would definitely help the alliance. But, if parties like the Congress demand more seats, it would have an impact in securing a majority in the assembly,' Sigamani said, recalling the past performance of the Congress party. In the 2011 polls, the Congress won just five of the 63 seats it contested. In the 2016 polls, the Congress was allotted 41 seats and it won eight. In the 2021 assembly elections, the Congress was allocated 25 seats and it won 18 seats. 'We have also increased our presence in the state,' Tamil Nadu Congress Committee President K. Selvaperunthagai told ThePrint. 'Unlike in previous elections, we have proved our support base in the last two Lok Sabha elections and in the 2021 assembly election as well. So, we would definitely demand for more seats to contest, and the numbers will be decided by the national leadership.' VCK general secretary Sinthanai Selvan said it was the need of the hour to strengthen the alliance to achieve the larger goal of protecting the country. 'We are part of the DMK alliance not just for the seats and power, but, for a larger cause of saving the nation from the Hindutva forces,' he told ThePrint. 'In the journey to protect the country, it is also essential to strengthen ourselves to fight Sanatan forces. So, demanding more seats to contest is natural to strengthen our own party.' He, however, added the demand would not be at the cost of the DMK-led alliance. Shanmugam also told ThePrint seat-sharing talks would not be at the cost of the alliance, but it would only aim at strengthening his party and its representation in the assembly. 'The representation of the Marxist at the state and national level has been dwindling for years. And as a party, we want to increase our presence in assembly in accordance with our increase in presence on the ground,' he said, adding that they do not have any number in mind for now, but would decide at the time of seat-sharing talks with DMK. (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: How smaller TN parties are bolstering bargaining power to extract more from senior partners in 2026
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Attempt being made to disturb Madurai's tradition of social harmony
Madurai has a tradition of social harmony where equality and brotherhood is followed. The Sangh Parivar is conducting the Lord Murugan devotees conference in Madurai to disturb this harmony and keeping the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections on their mind, said VCK president and Chidambaram MP Thol. Thirumavalavan, on Thursday. Addressing the gathering at the Human Chain protest organised in Madurai by the members of Madurai Madha Nallinakka Makkal Kootamaipu, Mr. Thirumavalavan said that BJP, Hindu Munnani and the Sangh Paraivar who have never voiced for the public with respect to several issues had earlier tried to divide the people through the Tirupparankundaram issue. Now, they are attempting to disturb harmony though the conference. They have never spoken for precedence to Tamil in the temple rituals and are taking steps to eliminate the findings of Keeladi and Tamil civilization. The Sangh Parivar is trying to use the method which is being used by them in the North to divide the people. The people of Tamil Nadu should stay united and oppose the attempt being made to disturb communal harmony, he said. Advocate S. Vanchinathan, the Coordinator of the forum, said that the conference organised by Hindu Munnani is not a religious conference, but was a political conference targeting the 2026 Assembly elections. Mixing religion and politics is dangerous. In the North, they divided the people in the name of Lord Ram and here they want to do the same in the name of Lord Murugan, he said. He urged the State government to monitor the conference and ensure that communal harmony is not disturbed. Earlier, Mr. Thirumavalavan visited Tirupparankundram and interacted with the people. Addressing media persons, he said that an attempt had been made to divide the people. But, there was no enmity between the people and they have remained united.
India Today
19-06-2025
- Politics
- India Today
DMK ally points to bias in coalition, says AIADMK tie-up possible without BJP
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) chief Thol Thirumavalavan said there is no issue in joining hands with the AIADMK, but categorically ruled out any alliance involving the BJP or was clear on the possibility of a future alliance with AIADMK: 'There is no problem in joining hands with AIADMK. But since BJP is with them, we can't.' Reaffirming the VCK's ideological position, he said the party will never align with the BJP or being an ally of Tamil Nadu's ruling DMK, Thirumavalavan said that the VCK continues to face a political and administrative crisis. 'A common question is, why continue in the alliance? But politics cannot be based on one or two incidents. We have to think about the broader good of Tamil Nadu, Dalits, and marginalised communities across India,' he said.'Even while being in the ruling alliance, we are being targeted,' he said, pointing to the removal of VCK flags in districts like Chidambaram, Perambalur, Ariyalur, and Cuddalore.'Bulldozers were used to remove our flagpoles alone, not others,' he added, calling the move a display of 'vengeance by those in power.'The VCK chief expressed frustration that the police stopped the party's activities under the pretext of permission, despite VCK being part of the ruling the idea of playing political games to extract favours or threaten allies, Thirumavalavan said the VCK's goal was to take Ambedkarite politics to the people, not indulge in power play. IN THIS STORY#Tamil Nadu
