Thirumavalavan for Deputy CM? VCK unit backs leader to contest Trichy East bypoll

While Thirumavalavan, the Lok Sabha MP from Chidambaram, has not reacted to the latest resolution, this is not the first time his name has been linked to the Deputy Chief Minister's post.

In Short

• VCK Salem unit urges Thirumavalavan to contest Trichy East bypoll
• Thirumavalavan denied seeking Deputy CM post earlier
• Speculation on Thirumavalavan's government role resurfaces

Political developments in Tamil Nadu continue to grab headlines, with the latest twist coming from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK). The party's Salem district unit has passed a resolution urging VCK chief Thol. Thirumavalavan to contest the upcoming Trichy East Assembly bypoll and join the C Joseph Vijay-led government as Deputy Chief Minister.

The development comes just days after Chief Minister Vijay convened a meeting of "friendly" parties, a move widely seen by political observers as an attempt to consolidate a new ruling alliance in the state.

The meeting was attended by the Congress, the IUML and the VCK, whose two MLAs are part of the TVK-led government. The MDMK also attended the July 1 meeting, barely a day after walking out of the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance, adding to speculation over a broader political realignment.

While Thirumavalavan, the Lok Sabha MP from Chidambaram, has not reacted to the latest resolution, this is not the first time his name has been linked to the Deputy Chief Minister's post.

During the hectic coalition negotiations that followed the fractured Assembly verdict, the VCK chief was widely tipped as a potential deputy to Vijay. However, the speculation subsided after the party opted to extend outside support instead of formally joining the government. Thirumavalavan also publicly denied ever seeking the Deputy Chief Minister's post.

Eventually, senior VCK leader Vanni Arasu was inducted into the Cabinet.

Despite staying out of the government, Thirumavalavan has remained central to Tamil Nadu's post-election political discourse ever since the Assembly delivered a hung verdict, with the TVK emerging as the single-largest party with 108 seats.

Days after Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister on May 10, Thirumavalavan revealed that "well-wishers and mediators" had informally sounded him out about the possibility of becoming Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister. However, he clarified that no official proposal was ever made and that no one from the TVK formally sought the VCK's support for such an arrangement.

"Well-wishers and mediators spoke to us, but no one approached us officially or sought our support," Thirumavalavan had said while addressing the speculation.

He also disclosed that some mid-level political leaders and supporters had questioned why a Dalit leader could not become the Chief Minister. "Even my party's general secretary had put out a tweet, but we felt that it was not appropriate," he said.

The VCK chief further revealed that he first learnt about the speculation on the night of May 8 but initially dismissed it.

However, with fresh calls from within his own party for him to enter the government, the question of Thirumavalavan's role in the Vijay administration has once again returned to the centre of Tamil Nadu politics.

- Ends