Tamil Nadu polls: TVK chief T Velmurugan quits DMK alliance over seat-sharing row, rules out joining NDA

CHENNAI: Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) founder T Velmurugan announced that he will quit the DMK-led secular progressive alliance (SPA). TVK is the only party to quit the DMK alliance for the upcoming assembly election, so far.

Velmurugan also announced that he will not be part of the BJP-led NDA. "We will not be part of the BJP alliance which divides people on the lines of religion," Velmurugan told reporters in Chennai.





The announcement comes following a seat-sharing dispute between TVK and DMK. While TVK demanded at least one more seat in addition to the previous election, DMK was not ready to allot any additional seat, since they had to accommodate nine new parties in the alliance.

In the 2021 assembly election, Velmurugan contested in DMK symbol in one constituency and won. Last time, he contested in Panruti constituency in Cuddalore district and this time he intended to contest in Neyveli constituency, also in Cuddalore district.

Though Velmurugan was part of the DMK alliance in the past five years, he was upset at some of the ministers who snubbed him frequently whenever he raised his demands, both inside and outside the state assembly.

Velmurugan accused DMK of showing "big brother attitude" towards his party. "They fulfilled only a few demands and when I questioned they (ministers) were upset and asked how can a smaller party like TVK question a bigger party like DMK," Velmurugan said.



Claiming that seats are not important to him, Velmurugan said his primary intention is to work for the welfare of the entire Tamil society. "We will discuss what to do next, whether to contest alone or to give support only for the election," Velmurugan said.

The TVK president accused Stalin of being misguided by officials on the issue of caste survey. "Stalin is hesitating to provide reservation for backward classes and downtrodden people because he is guided by officials of higher castes having RSS ideology," Velmurugan said.