Dharmapuri: Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol. Thirumavalavan launched a sharp attack on the DMK, alleging that the ruling party was responsible for alliance partners drifting away after Assembly elections because it could not preserve cordial relations.

Speaking at a wedding reception in Dharmapuri, he recalled that during the Karunanidhi-led DMK regime, accusations were levelled against the VCK through PMK leader G.K. Mani, and said he entered electoral politics in 1999 at the initiative of Moopanar. He added that the VCK had aligned with both the DMK and the AIADMK at different times depending on political circumstances, and insisted he never sought entry into any alliance by pleading for it.

Thirumavalavan said a proposal from within his party to project him as a chief ministerial candidate for the 2026 Assembly election was not pursued, as it could have strengthened an AIADMK–BJP alliance and risked splitting the DMK-led front. He argued that the responsibility of maintaining harmony among allies rests with the lead party, and cited strained ties with the Congress, the exit of Left parties and the Muslim League, and decisions such as not allowing the MDMK to contest on its own symbol and not allotting a seat to Kamal, while a newly inducted DMDK was given more seats.

He maintained that such decisions would naturally upset long-time partners and reiterated that parties left because of the DMK’s actions. He also said the DMK had “abandoned” the VCK, not the other way around, and stressed that political goodwill matters more than electoral wins or losses.

Referring to actor-politician Vijay and his party, he said the DMK had initially underestimated the new entrant during the election period. He claimed he had urged legal action against Vijay in connection with the Karur incident in which 42 people died, but the DMK did not act, and added that he had earlier criticised Vijay as an “RSS foster child” when Vijay attacked the DMK. Thirumavalavan said Vijay later absorbed the Congress and Left forces without seeking support from parties like the AIADMK, BJP or PMK, and said the VCK decided it should be part of that space, asserting that the alliance involving the VCK would grow stronger in Tamil Nadu politics.