MDMK principal secretary and Lok Sabha MP Durai Vaiko has alleged that the DMK leadership interfered in the allocation of seats and the selection of Congress candidates during the previous Tamil Nadu Assembly election.
Speaking in interviews in Tiruchirappalli and Pudukkottai, Durai Vaiko said VCK cadres had wanted party chief Thol. Thirumavalavan to contest the Assembly election, believing he could function effectively as an MLA. He said Thirumavalavan later announced he would contest from Kattumannarkoil, but claimed the DMK leadership did not accept it and created pressure that ultimately denied him the opportunity.
Durai Vaiko said Thirumavalavan’s recent remarks about the DMK were “100% true”, alleging that the DMK treated alliance partners—Left parties, VCK, Congress and MDMK—poorly during seat-sharing talks. He also claimed the MDMK was compelled to contest in four seats under the DMK’s “Rising Sun” symbol, and that even in Sirkazhi—where a separate symbol was initially agreed—candidates were made to contest under the DMK symbol at the last moment.
He further alleged DMK involvement not only in Congress seat allocation but also in the selection of Congress candidates. Separately, he commented on the MISA-era arrest of DMK leader M.K. Stalin, saying the arrest did occur but arguing it was not “100%” purely for political reasons.
The remarks come after VCK leader Thirumavalavan, speaking at a wedding function in Dharmapuri, accused the DMK of being responsible for parties leaving the post-election alliance, citing an inability to maintain cordial ties. Durai Vaiko’s criticism has added to the political churn around the ruling party’s alliance management.
