Chennai, May 9 (IANS) Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M.K. Stalin on Saturday welcomed the decision of several alliance partners to support the Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in forming the next government, while asserting that the DMK would continue to function as a constructive Opposition in the state.

In a detailed statement issued to party cadres and the people of Tamil Nadu, Stalin said the recent Assembly election had produced a fractured public mandate in which no political party secured a clear majority to form the government.

He noted that although the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance did not obtain the requisite strength required to retain power, the alliance had received substantial support from the people across Tamil Nadu.

The former Chief Minister said that immediately after the election results, he had publicly added that the DMK would not obstruct the formation of a new government in Tamil Nadu and would instead discharge its responsibility as a constructive Opposition in the state Assembly.

Stalin said that during the meeting of newly elected MLAs held under his leadership, party legislators had authorised him to take an appropriate decision after consulting senior DMK leaders and alliance partners.

He added that in a situation where no party had secured the required majority, it was important to ensure political stability and avoid another election in the state.

Welcoming the stand taken by the DMK-led alliance parties, Stalin said he respected their decision to extend support to the TVK while continuing to remain a part of the DMK-led secular progressive alliance on the basis of shared ideology and policy principles.

Referring to developments after the election, the former Chief Minister noted that the Congress MLAs who had contested as part of the alliance did not visit Anna Arivalayam, the DMK headquarters, after the poll results and that the Congress subsequently moved away from the DMK-led alliance.

However, Stalin expressed gratitude to Communist leaders R. Shanmugam and A. Veerapandian, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Chief Thol Thirumavalavan, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader Kader Mohideen, MDMK General Secretary Vaiko, DMDK General Secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth, MMK leader M.H. Jawahirullah, KMDK founder E.R. Eswaran and Manithaneya Makkal Katchi leader Tamimun Ansari for standing firmly with the DMK during what he described as a politically challenging period.

He said the DMK government had transformed Tamil Nadu over the last five years through various welfare and development programmes.

He urged the incoming state government to continue welfare schemes aimed at women, youth, students, children, government employees and marginalised communities so that the benefits reached by the people would continue uninterrupted.

The former Chief Minister concluded his statement by extending his best wishes to the new TVK government likely to be formed in Tamil Nadu.

–IANS

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