Premallatha rebuts Thirumavalavan over DMDK's role in alliance defeat
DMDK's Premallatha Vijayakant challenged VCK chief Thirumavalavan's claim that her party's late entry cost the DMK-led alliance the polls, and pledged DMDK support to the DMK in upcoming byelections.
DMDK general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant on Wednesday pushed back against VCK president Thol. Thirumavalavan over his recent remarks that the DMDK's late induction into the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance ahead of the Assembly elections contributed to the front's defeat.
Addressing reporters after a district secretaries' meeting in Chennai, she said she continued to hold Thirumavalavan in high regard and described him as a straightforward leader, but argued that his own political position had shifted. She pointed out that the VCK now has a Minister in the government and questioned why the party had not extended support from outside, as the Communists chose to do.
"You wished for a Ministerial post and joined the alliance… why are you dragging in the DMDK unnecessarily?" she asked, suggesting that the VCK's decision to take a berth in the government undercut its criticism of other parties' alliance choices.
Ms. Premallatha also said the DMDK would back the DMK in the byelections that lie ahead.