Latest news with #VCK
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
VCK set to promote two non-Dalit MLAs as treasurer and general secretary
CHENNAI: In a move that underlines its stated intent of not getting pigeonholed as a 'Dalit' party, the VCK is set to elevate two non-Dalit MLAs, Aloor J Mohamed Shanavas and S S Balaji, as the party's one of the general secretaries and treasurer respectively. According to party sources, Shanavas, currently a deputy general secretary and MLA representing Nagapattinam constituency, will fill a long-vacant slot of general secretary reserved for a non-Dalit in accordance with the party's by-law. The post has remained unfilled since Kalaikottu Udhayam left the party to join NTK. Thiruporur MLA Balaji is expected to take over as treasurer, a position that has been vacant since the demise of former treasurer Yusuf. Party insiders said these appointments, expected to be made before the formal internal elections, are intended to signal the leadership's commitment towards inclusivity and outreach.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
No consensus between AIADMK and BJP on alliance, says VCK chief Thirumavalavan
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol. Thirumavalavan on Sunday (July 6, 2025) said there was no consensus between the AIADMK and BJP leaders regarding their alliance. The VCK leader was speaking to reporters after participating in party events held in Veeraganur, Thedavur, Sentharapatti, and Gangavalli. 'The BJP cannot gain foothold in Tamil Nadu. The recent statement by AIADMK leader A. Anwar Raajhaa clearly shows there is no consensus between the two parties. Their alliance is incompatible, and working together is not an easy task,' Mr. Thirumavalavan said. He also extended his wishes to AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami for his State-wide pre-poll tour. 'It is common for political parties to start the groundwork ahead of elections. The DMK, for instance, begins its campaign preparations at least six months in advance,' he added. Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent remark about a coalition government in Tamil Nadu in 2026, Mr. Thirumavalavan said Mr. Palaniswami has not offered a clear response. 'While Amit Shah talks about a coalition, Mr. Palaniswami is claiming the AIADMK will form the government on its own. This contradiction raises questions. The people of Tamil Nadu are keen to know whether it is a BJP-led alliance or an AIADMK-led one,' he said. When asked whether actor Vijay's political entry would affect the DMK alliance, Mr. Thirumavalavan replied, 'Success in cinema does not guarantee success in politics. We cannot assume everyone who wins in cinema will win in electoral politics.'
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
DMK's regional ally leader faces backlash over same-sex love remark, apologises
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) leader and Chidambaram MP Thol Thirumavalavan apologised to the LGBTQIA+ community for his insensitive comment on same-sex relationships.A video of Thol Thirumavalavan surfaced recently, showing him calling same-sex love a 'perversion' during a student event at Coimbatore Agricultural University. The remark, made on April 12, at the 'Let Us Learn Democracy and Student Parliament 2025', was in response to a law student's question on whether same-sex love fits within Tamil philosophical concepts of English, they call that 'perversion'. If love happens between a man and another man, that is perversion. It is something that goes against nature,' Thirumavalavan could be heard replying in the video and then went on to argue that such relationships were 'against dialectics'. Answering the question further, he shifted tone and reflected more broadly on love itself, calling it 'an emotion beyond derivation'. He noted that love could be described in many ways: 'soft or strong', 'effective or terrible', 'necessary or unnecessary'. He added that 'you can design it in any way' and concluded by stating that love is not exclusive to humans, but a universal behaviour seen across all Thirumavalavan also spoke poetically about the universality of love, the comment drew laughter and applause from the audience. However, his initial words sparked widespread outrage when the clip re-emerged online months groups, artists, and activists condemned Thirumavalavan's remarks, saying such comments from a social justice leader were deeply harmful. The community members noted that homosexuality was declassified as a disorder by the World Health Organisation in 1990 and is legally protected in India. They also argued that liberation movements cannot exclude people for whom they love and that 'social justice cannot be selective'.In the wake of the backlash, Thirumavalavan apologised to the community in a post on social media platform X: 'I am very sorry! An explanation for LGBTQ+ comrades!''I felt remorse after knowing that my response to a student's question has caused hurt to the sexual minority community. I was informed that my comment without any hidden agenda has hurt them. I sincerely apologise,' he wrote in his post.- Ends
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Naxals are our comrades who fight for the people: VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan
TIRUCHY: 'Naxals are our comrades who fight for people's rights. They are not anti-social elements,' said Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol Thirumavalavan, while unveiling a statue of tribal rights activist Fr. Stan Swamy in his native village of Viragalur on Saturday, marking the priest's fourth death anniversary. 'They are the voice for the voiceless. They take up arms not for personal gain, but to protect the forests and resist corporates who loot resources and suppress tribal communities,' he said, referring to the armed movements in Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and other forested belts of Central India. While acknowledging that Naxals do not believe in parliamentary democracy and have even criticised VCK and communist parties. Thirumavalavan added, 'We don't accept their path, but we recognise their sacrifice. Like Stan Swamy, they dedicate their lives to the people.' Taking a veiled swipe at Union Home Minister Amit Shah's repeated calls to eliminate Naxals, he questioned the narrative that paints them solely as enemies of the state.
New Indian Express
4 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
CM Stalin, leaders pay tributes to Tamil scholar Perungavikko
CHENNAI: CM M K Stalin, VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan, and several political leaders on Saturday paid floral tributes to renowned Tamil scholar Perungavikko VM Sethuraman, who passed away late on Friday at the age of 89. Upon hearing the news of his demise, Stalin, accompanied by Health Minister Ma Subramanian, visited the scholar's residence to offer floral tributes and console his family members. In a condolence message, Stalin expressed deep grief and recalled Sethuraman's contributions to Tamil literature, including a poem he had penned for the DMK's mouthpiece Murasoli. He also cited former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's praise for Sethuraman, who had described him as a scholar who devoted his entire life to Tamil. As a mark of respect, Stalin ordered police honours to be accorded at Sethuraman's cremation. VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan also paid his respects in person. TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai, MDMK general secretary Vaiko, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss, CPI state secretary R Mutharasan, TMC(M) president G K Vasan, and AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, issued condolence messages.
