Chennai: Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, a constituent of the four-party People's Welfare Alliance, announced its first list of candidates to contest 11 of the 25 constituencies allotted to it. VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan does not figure in this list; nor does the RK Nagar constituency where he might possibly contest against chief minister J Jayalalithaa as being speculated in some sections of the media and political circles.
VCK general secretary D. Ravikumar and deputy general secretary Vanni Arasu also do not find place in the first list, which includes general secretary M Sinthanai Selvan (Bhuvanagiri-SC, Cuddalore district), deputy general secretaries Aloor Sha Navas (Kunnam, Perambalur district) and S S Balaji (Mailam, Villupuram district). All these three constituencies have a strong VCK presence.
VCK sources told DC that party chief Thirumavalavan is most likely to contest from Kattumannarkoil (Cuddalore district). Even he has acknowledged that his senior lieutenants want him to field himself here. The reserved constituency has fairly large VCK influence and comes under the Chidambaram Lok Sabha seat represented by Thirumavalavan during 2009-14. Even though Thiruma lost the 2014 LS contest, he had improved his score in the Kattumannarkoil segment by over 8000 votes.
“I cannot rule out thalaivar (leader) contesting in RK Nagar; I cannot rule out Kattumannarkoil either. The decision will be known tomorrow (Tuesday)”, quipped a VCK senior when asked to comment on the persistent rumours that the PWA wants Thiruma to take on Jayalalithaa in RK Nagar. "It is unlikely that he will opt for RK Nagar because that could tie him up in that constituency to be able to put up a proper fight and achieve a good score even if not the victory", explained another party lieutenant.
A fast-growing Dalit party with a foundation of loyal cadres--albeit confined to the northern districts--the VCK has been in alliance with both the DMK (2011) and the AIADMK (2006). They fared better in AIADMK company, considering that the AIADMK always enjoyed a strong Dalit support. It is to be seen how the VCK will fare in this poll, considering that it is part of a hitherto untested experiment, and a hugely ambitious dream to launch a viable third front in the Dravidian turf.
