T.N. Assembly election: Thirumavalavan to enter the fray in Kattumannarkovil

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) founder and Chidambaram MP Thol. Thirumavalavan sprung a surprise on Sunday by announcing that he would contest the Assembly election from the Kattumannarkoil (SC) Assembly constituency.

The VCK has fielded party floor leader Sinthanai Selvan in Cheyyur (SC), party deputy general secretary Vanni Arasu from Tindivanam (SC), organising secretary Panneer Das from Thiruporur constituency, deputy general secretary Sakthivel alias Attral Arasu from the Periyakulam (SC) constituency, deputy general secretary advocate Ezhil Caroline from the Arakkonam (SC) constituency, and Abdur Rahman from Panruti. Advocate Ku. Malathi, who is also Mr. Thirumavalavan’s niece, has been fielded in the Kallakurichi (SC) constituency. Sitting MLAs Aloor Shanavas, S.S. Balaji, and M. Babu have been denied ticket.

Making the announcement on a live broadcast on social media, Mr. Thirumavalavan, who began by stating that this would be the final election in which he would personally be picking candidates, said despite having many regrets in not being able to secure the constituencies that the party wanted, the intention of forming an alliance with the DMK was to “ensure that right wing and religious forces” did not gain strength in Tamil Nadu.

“We have to focus on Tamil Nadu State politics. After the upcoming Assembly election, the State’s political situation is expected to change drastically. In this context, I am contesting from Kattumannarkoil,” he said.

Party sources said though the decision of Mr. Thirumavalavan had come as a surprise, many felt that his presence in the Assembly and his contribution to Tamil Nadu’s political discourse would become important after the current Assembly polls.

“There shouldn’t be a repeat of the situation wherein a person such as K. Annamalai was able to take over the Opposition space without any challenge. The threat of that happening becomes multi-fold with someone such as Vijay, who will invariably get a lot of attention if, by chance, he wins a seat and goes to the Assembly. There needs to be a person of Mr. Thirumavalavan’s stature to set the context for the political discourse,” a senior leader said.

Furthermore, party sources feel that Mr. Thirumavalavan’s decision to contest will help mobilise the Dalit youth towards the DMK-VCK alliance.

SDPI candidate

On Sunday, Social Democratic Party of India said that it would field V.M.S. Mohamed Mubarak from Nannilam constituency. He will be contesting in the “Rising Sun” symbol.