VCK and IUML Join Tamil Nadu Cabinet
Chennai: The VCK and IUML have decided to join the Tamil Nadu cabinet, and their MLAs will be sworn in on Friday. VCK's Tindivanam MLA Vanni Arasu is likely to be allotted the Adi Dravidar welfare portfolio, while IUML's Papanasam MLA A M Shahjahan is set to get the minorities welfare department.
IUML's Decision
After meeting senior party functionaries, IUML president K M Kader Mohideen told reporters that the party had extended support to the TVK government during the trust vote 'without condition', but the Vijay-led government offered to include IUML in the cabinet. “We are duty-bound to thank them for approaching us and offering cabinet representation,” he said. Following approval from the party’s political advisory committee, the IUML state high-level committee met in Chennai on Thursday and decided to recommend Shahjahan. Mohideen said DMK president M K Stalin had called and congratulated him on Thursday morning. However, he declined to answer questions on whether IUML would continue in the DMK-led alliance. “We are not discussing the alliance now. This is not an election-time decision. It is a decision to participate in governance,” he said. He also indicated that IUML would not be in a position to participate in future protests organised by DMK while remaining part of the government. “How can those in government participate in protests? If there are shortcomings, we will point them out and question them,” he said. On parties sharing power after a long gap in Tamil Nadu politics, Mohideen said this was the first such development in recent years and expressed hope that it would continue in the future.
VCK's Stand
Thirumavalavan, who had extended 'unconditional support' to the TVK government, said they have changed their stand due to TVK’s request. “Aadhav Arjuna invited us to join the cabinet, after which we met with our top party functionaries. Based on the opinion of the majority of the functionaries, we have decided to take part in the (TVK) government,” he said. However, Thirumavalavan was non-committal on the issue of quitting the DMK-led secular progressive alliance. Responding to reporters, he said, “I will speak on that (alliance issue) another day.”
