Chennai: VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan has justified his move to opt out of the assembly polls, reiterating his stand that the decision was taken in the larger interest of the alliance. But his approach has left a section of the VCK rank and file disappointed. “We were initially happy about the announcement that our leader is going to contest in Kattumannarkoil assembly segment. We were eager to see him in the state assembly after more than 20 years but were disappointed at his announcement to withdraw from the election,” said a state level VCK functionary. But his decision to field Jothimani Ilayaperumal, as his replacement has come as yet another disappointment. A section of VCK functionaries felt that though Jothimani is the son of late Congress state president Ilayaperumal, who fought for dalit rights, VCK aspirants have been denied an opportunity by fielding a Congress person. VCK men feel that Thiruma should have contested in the assembly election ignoring criticisms. Thiruma said he had changed his plan because there was criticism that he was entering assembly polls anticipating a hung assembly. While opposition parties including AIADMK, PMK and TVK alleged that Thiruma changed his plan due to pressure from DMK, the VCK chief refuted the charge. He said there was no pressure from DMK. Nevertheless, some of the VCK functionaries feel that there was pressure from DMK. “There was an indirect pressure from the DMK. There were internal pressures too,” said a VCK functionary from Tindivanam said. Party spokesperson Vanniyarasu and Cuddalore deputy mayor P Thamaraiselvan too demanded Kattumannarkoil seat. To avoid internal disputes, Thirumavalavan initially decided to contest in the seat but later withdrew from it,” he said. However, one of the party spokespersons defended Thirumavalavan’s action by saying that he has become a pan-Tamil Nadu Dalit leader. “By offering a seat to a Congressman, Thirumavalavan has positioned himself as a representative for all Dalits across the state. He earlier supported AIADMK R K Nagar candidate Porkodi Armstrong though she was from the opposite camp,” the spokesperson said.
