Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol. Thirumavalavan has announced new party responsibilities for sitting MLAs who were denied tickets for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly election.
According to the party’s announcement, MLAs S.S. Balaji and Aloor Shanavas—among three sitting VCK legislators who were not given a chance to contest again—have now been assigned senior organisational posts.
Balaji has been appointed as the party’s state treasurer, while Shanavas has been named state principal secretary. The denial of tickets to Balaji, Shanavas and Babu had become a subject of discussion in political circles.
Reports and party chatter had linked the decision to intense internal factionalism, with claims that some VCK MLAs were in direct contact with the DMK. Thirumavalavan had earlier given an interview that was seen as confirming that Shanavas spoke directly with the DMK without his knowledge, even as he repeatedly maintained that there was no ulterior motive behind denying the tickets.
Party sources said the latest appointments are aimed at managing discontent and containing the impact of factional tensions.
