Chennai, May 20 (IANS) Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) President Thol Thirumavalavan on Wednesday indicated that the party would deliberate on Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) renewed invitation to join the C. Joseph Vijay-led cabinet, amid growing speculation that the party could soon be accommodated in the government with a ministerial berth.

The development comes after the VCK had earlier maintained that its support to the Vijay government was purely from outside and intended only to ensure political stability while preventing any possible intervention by the BJP-led Union government during the government formation process.

Addressing reporters, Thirumavalavan said the TVK leadership had conveyed to him that rebel AIADMK legislators would not be inducted into the Cabinet.

The clarification assumes significance as the VCK chief had previously warned that the party would be compelled to reconsider its support if AIADMK dissidents were accommodated in the ministry.

He also expressed gratitude to Minister Aadhav Arjuna for publicly reiterating the TVK’s desire to bring the VCK into the government structure.

Thirumavalavan recalled that during the release of the book “Ellorukkumana Thalaivar Ambedkar”, TVK President Vijay had openly invited the VCK to join hands politically.

According to him, the VCK interpreted that statement as a significant political signal, though electoral circumstances at the time had prevented the party from becoming part of the TVK alliance.

The VCK had conducted a virtual high-level committee meeting on May 8, during which a majority of senior party functionaries reportedly favoured joining the government. Power-sharing has remained a long-standing political aspiration of the party, though it had limited leverage in its previous alliance with the DMK due to the latter’s numerical strength.

“We did not demand ministerial positions as a precondition for extending support. We offered unconditional support solely for government formation despite winning only two seats,” Thirumavalavan said.

Emphasising that participation in governance also forms part of the party’s political vision, he said the VCK had supported the TVK government without attaching any conditions. He added that the party would now hold detailed discussions with its senior office-bearers, including the General Secretaries, Treasurer, and the Principal Secretary, before taking a final decision on joining the Cabinet.

–IANS

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