CPI(M), VCK may join hands in Srirangam

Dalits accounts for over 17 per cent of total voters

 Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK) leader Thol. Thirumavalavan has decided to meet the leaders of the CPI (M) after State secretary of the Communist party G. Ramakrishnan sought the VCK’s support to his party candidate K. Annadurai in the Srirangam by-election. The meeting is likely to take place on Tuesday.

 If Mr. Thirumavalavan agrees to extend support to the CPI (M) candidate, who is also a Dalit, it may pave way for a realignment in Tamil Nadu politics as both the parties are working together on many issues, including the movement in support of Tamil writer Perumal Murugan.

 According to CPI (M) leaders, they nominated Mr. Annadurai as he is the secretary of the Tiruchi City district unit and a well-known face in the constituency.

The party also has approached G.K. Vasan’s Tamil Manila Congress (TMC). Sources in the TMC, however, reiterated their stand that the party would not participate in the by-election in any manner.

 The VCK’s support plays a crucial role as both the AIADMK and the DMK candidates belong to the Mutharaiyar, a powerful community in Tiruchi district.  According to the former VCK MLA, Ravikumar, Dalits have a substantial presence in the constituency and they account for 17.07 per cent of the total voters as per the data collected under the delimitation commission in 2001. Their presence varies between 10 to 19 per cent in wards one, four and six.

 Even though the VCK maintains a good relationship with the DMK and Mr. Thirumavalavan frequently calls on party leader M. Karunanidhi, VCK leaders are upset that the DMK made no effort to seek their support. 

“When we met him on Pongal day, the DMK candidate was also present. But the DMK leaders chose not to introduce the candidate to us. We do not know what is in their mind. May be they think that an alliance with a Dalit party will alienate other voters,” said a senior leader of the VCK.  Besides the ruling AIADMK, the DMK and the CPI (M), the BJP also has entered the fray.

 The AIADMK has been winning the constituency since 2001 and the former Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa fielded Dalit Ezhilmalai in the Tiruchi Lok Sabha constituency that fell vacant following the death of Rangarajan Kumaramangalam, and won the seat.

Now the CPI (M) has fielded a Dalit in a general constituency.

 The AIADMK and the DMK candidates belong to a powerful community in Tiruchi district