Chennai: The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) have decided to join Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's cabinet in the coming days, following a public invitation from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Thursday. Both parties are expected to receive one ministerial berth each.
VCK's Decision and Possible Inductee
According to VCK sources, party president Thol Thirumavalavan is unlikely to join the cabinet, despite TVK's keenness to accommodate him. Instead, VCK deputy general secretary Vanni Arasu, who won the Tindivanam seat, is expected to be inducted. There is also speculation that Thirumavalavan may contest the by-election from Trichy East, a seat vacated by Vijay. VCK sources indicated that TVK has been urging Thirumavalavan to contest the by-election, though he has been hesitant about joining the cabinet.
IUML's Emergency Meeting
The IUML has called an emergency meeting of its state committee in Chennai on Thursday, led by party president K M Kader Mohideen, to finalize its decision. A senior IUML leader stated, “The national party political affairs committee, which met in Kerala on Wednesday, decided to join Vijay’s cabinet and asked the Tamil Nadu unit to select the MLA to be inducted.” IUML MLA S S B Syed Farooq Basha, representing Vaniyambadi, is expected to be inducted into the cabinet.
Thirumavalavan's Statement
After TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna extended an open invitation earlier in the day, Thirumavalavan told reporters, “I do not think there is a need to convene the high-level committee again for this. Still, I will consult key office-bearers including the general secretaries and announce our decision.” He also confirmed that TVK had informed them that rebel AIADMK MLAs who supported the government during the trust vote would not be part of the ministry. “Information has been passed on to us from TVK that there is no chance for the breakaway AIADMK faction to be accommodated in the cabinet,” he added.
Aadhav Arjuna's Remarks
Aadhav Arjuna refrained from directly answering whether rebel AIADMK MLAs would receive ministerial berths, stating that their support during the floor test was to uphold the people's mandate, not for positions. He criticized AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, alleging that Palaniswami attempted to come to power “through the backdoor” by forging an arrangement with the DMK, which went against the people's mandate. This, he said, led to the rebellion of AIADMK MLAs. “Brother C Ve Shanmugham led that faction. DMK is spreading wrong information that these talks were negotiations for power. They extended support with a sense of friendship and brotherhood,” Aadhav said.
Chief Minister's Vision
Aadhav Arjuna stated that Chief Minister Vijay wanted parties and leaders committed to social justice and secularism to join the cabinet. He confirmed that the CM also invited the Congress, VCK, and IUML to participate in the ministry.
