Tamil Nadu Minister Vanni Arasu counters Premallatha Vijayakant’s remarks on VCK-TVK alliance

Tamil Nadu Minister Vanni Arasu. File | Photo Credit: PTI Tamil Nadu Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu on Thursday (September 17, 2026) responded to DMDK general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant’s remarks that the VCK had joined the TVK alliance seeking a ministerial post, saying she had failed to understand the context of VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan’s recent comments.Ms. Premallatha on Wednesday (September 16) questioned Mr. Thirumavalavan’s criticism of the sudden inclusion of the DMDK in the erstwhile DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance ahead of the Assembly elections. She had said the VCK had joined the TVK alliance because it wanted a ministerial post and questioned why it had not extended outside support to the government like the Communist parties.Addressing the media, Mr. Arasu said the VCK had been part of the DMK alliance for a long time and that Mr. Thirumavalavan’s comments were made in the context of the “friction” arising from a new party being allotted more seats than the VCK. “It was not an accusation against the DMDK, but a statement about how the DMK handled the alliance,” he said.Strained seat-sharing talksHe said there had also been differences during seat-sharing talks with the Congress and the Left parties, and that the allocation of more seats to a party that had joined the alliance later was another such point of disagreement.Mr. Arasu also referred to the DMDK’s past association with the BJP and its negotiations with different alliances, saying that the party had eventually joined the DMK alliance for a Rajya Sabha seat.On NTK chief Seeman’s recent statement that he would have supported the Left parties had he known the facts, Mr. Arasu said Mr. Seeman should withdraw his candidate on the last day of scrutiny if he genuinely intended to support the Left parties. Published - September 17, 2026 02:56 pm IST