Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi to reconsider alliance with DMK

Tamilaga Valvurimai Katchi founder T. Velmurugan on Sunday said the party’s political committee would reconsider its decision to go with the DMK in Tamil Nadu Assembly elections as the Dravidian major rejected its demand for more seats. Besides, the DMK had not acknowledged the party’s 10-point demand including 10.5% internal reservation for Vanniyars with the MBC quota.

In 2021, Mr. Velmurugan contested on the DMK’s rising sun symbol and won from Panruti. Now, the party was open to tying up with the AIADMK also if its demands are accepted by the latter, he told journalists in Chennai. Mr. Velmurugan said while he was averse to sharing a platform with the BJP, he was open to having a seat-sharing arrangement with the AIADMK.

“Caste-wise survey, 10.5% reservations for Vanniyars, plebiscite in Eelam, 100% reservations for those domiciled in Tamil Nadu in State governments and 80% reservations for Tamils in Central government jobs, ‘Archanai’ in Tamil in temples and Eelam Tamils arrested in passport act be released and sent to their respective countries, removal of tolls on highways are some of the demands presented by us to the DMK,” he said.

“The DMK rejected our request to allot a parliamentary seat in 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha elections on the pretext that it would part with more seats in Assembly elections and local body elections. But again, the DMK has decided to offer on seat like in the past,” he said.