All roads lead to Vijay? As MDMK walks out of DMK-led alliance, TVK swoops in
Amid intensifying political realignments in Tamil Nadu, the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has invited several parties for a meeting with Chief Minister C Joseph
Amid intensifying political realignments in Tamil Nadu, the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has invited several parties for a meeting with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on July 1, including the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan is among the leaders who have been invited for the meeting, which comes just days after the MDMK, led by Vaiko, decided to quit the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and extend support to the ruling TVK government. Sources said invitations have also been sent to the MDMK and the IUML.
Read Full Story The development comes against the backdrop of remarks by DMK president M K Stalin, who claimed the Vijay-led government may not complete its five-year term and urged his party workers to remain prepared for a snap election. Addressing a party event on Sunday, Stalin alleged that the TVK government lacked an independent majority in the Assembly, having won only 108 seats, short of the 118 required for a simple majority. "Election might come anytime. It could be in three months or six months," Stalin said, claiming the ruling dispensation was surviving only with the backing of parties that were previously part of the DMK-led alliance.
"The present ruling party did not win a majority to form a stable government on its own strength. Tamil Nadu's people voted for the DMK-led alliance, but it is only because of the support of our former alliance partners that this government is running," he said. Describing the government as a "shaky setup", Stalin said it was impossible to predict when it might lose power. "We do not know at which point that vehicle will stop. Whatever happens, we should be 100 per cent ready. Elections can come at any time," he told party cadres, urging them to begin preparations immediately instead of waiting for an official poll announcement.
The TVK formed the government after securing the support of the Congress, the Left parties, the VCK and the IUML, all of whom had contested the April 23 Assembly election as constituents of the DMK-led alliance before breaking ranks to back Vijay. The latest outreach by the ruling party, including its invitation to the MDMK following its exit from the DMK alliance, is being seen as a move to consolidate support within the coalition even as the opposition questions the government's stability. Ends
The BriefWire