CHENNAI: The TVK-led alliance has been named the Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance, with its leaders describing the new front as an “ideological-led front” that would go beyond electoral politics.The name and the new alliance were formally unveiled on Wednesday after Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay held an hour-long meeting with leaders of the Congress, MDMK, VCK and IUML at the TVK headquarters in Panayur.A photograph released by TVK showed Vijay alongside TNCC president Manickam Tagore, MDMK leader Vaiko, VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan and IUML leader Khader Mohideen standing in front of a banner bearing the name “Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance.”TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna, who spoke on behalf of the party, said the alliance was not formed merely to face elections.“This is an ideological front that goes beyond electoral politics and is for the people,” he said.“Secularism, social justice and victory – these are the three pillars of our alliance,” Aadhav said. While Vijay chaired the meeting with the alliance leaders, he stayed away from the joint press conference held to announce the formation and name of the new front.Responding to questions on the alliance’s minimum common programme, TVK general secretary K G Arunraj said the very name of the alliance reflected its core values and had been unanimously accepted by all the leaders.“This name is a statement and a revolutionary announcement. It sends a strong message that this front will fight communal forces in Tamil Nadu and across the country,” Arunraj said.Aadhav said CPI and CPM, which have extended support to the TVK govt, were with the new front, even though the two Left parties have not formally joined the alliance.The Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance will be the third major political front in Tamil Nadu, alongside the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance.The upcoming Dharapuram and Maduranthagam bypolls are expected to be the first electoral test for the newly formed front, setting the stage for a three-cornered contest among the three alliances.Manickam Tagore said the alliance would cover Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and that Vijay would be its leader.“Our first objective is to face the bypolls in the two constituencies. The future course of action will be discussed and explained after the next round of consultations,” Tagore said, while declining to answer whether the alliance would accept Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate.Thirumavalavan said the parties that had earlier extended support to the TVK govt had now evolved into a new political front. “A new alliance has emerged,” he said and it would continue to fight against communal and Hindutva forces.Khader Mohideen said Vijay had briefed the alliance leaders on the achievements of the TVK govt during its first 100 days and assured them of a corruption-free administration.Vijay also urged the leaders to remain confident, he added.The leaders are expected to hold further consultations soon to finalise the alliance’s organisational structure, political programme and strategy for the bypolls and elections ahead.
