Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is working on a strategy to field Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko if DMK president M.K. Stalin decides to contest the Trichy East Assembly by-election, according to reports.
The bypoll is expected after the Trichy East MLA seat fell vacant following a resignation. In the recent Assembly election, Chief Minister Vijay won from two constituencies—Chennai Perambur and Trichy East—triggering the vacancy in Trichy East.
With the DMK under pressure to regain public support after its Assembly election setback, party cadres have been urging Stalin to enter the fray. The Trichy South district DMK has already passed a resolution pressing him to contest, and DMK principal secretary K.N. Nehru has indicated that Stalin would come to the Assembly.
Stalin held discussions with senior party functionaries at the DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, in Chennai on Thursday. When asked by reporters about contesting the Trichy East bypoll, he did not rule it out, saying a decision had not yet been made, raising expectations that the party’s high-level committee may announce a call soon.
On the TVK side, discussions are said to be underway to put up a strong challenger if Stalin enters the contest. The MDMK general council is meeting on Friday, and there is speculation that the party may announce a decision to exit the DMK alliance and join the TVK front; if that happens, TVK is expected to consider Vaiko as its candidate to take on Stalin in Trichy East.
