CHENNAI: Barely three weeks after the Assembly election results, Tamil Nadu’s political landscape is undergoing a dramatic realignment. Three key allies of the DMK – the Congress, the VCK and the IUML, the parties that together contested 38 constituencies, accounting for nearly 16% of the Assembly, and campaigned vigorously against the TVK – have now joined the ruling TVK government.
Two other parties – the CPI and the CPM – have chosen to extend outside support, signalling a major post-poll churn in the state politics, leaving the DMK with minor political parties (MDMK, DMDK and others).
Among the three parties, the Congress formally severed ties with the DMK before joining the C Joseph Vijay-led TVK government. Though the VCK and the IUML have not officially announced a break with the DMK, their participation in the TVK ministry has effectively transformed them into post-poll allies of the ruling dispensation.
Politically, this marks a decisive shift as, in the days ahead, when the DMK takes on the role of the principal Opposition and attacks the policies and actions of the TVK regime, the VCK and the IUML, as constituents of the government, cannot be expected to stand with the DMK.
Thus, in effect, the once-formidable alliance led by the DMK has already begun to unravel. On Friday, Vanni Arasu (VCK) and A M Shahjahan (IUML) were sworn in as ministers by Governor Rajendra Arlekar at a simple function held in Lok Bhavan in the presence of Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. With this, Vijay’s cabinet reached its constitutional saturation point – 35 ministers.
As expected, Shahjahan has been designated as Minister for Minorities Welfare, and he will also look after the Wakf Board. Similarly, Vanni Arasu has been designated as Minister for Social Justice, a portfolio that includes subjects – Adi Dravidar Welfare and Hill Tribes. For many decades, both Dravidian majors – the DMK and the AIADMK – had this Adi Dravidar Welfare department. Now, the TVK government has created a new department called the Social Justice and included Adi Dravidar welfare in it.
Two weeks ago, Governor Arlekar had invited TVK president Vijay to form the government after the Left parties, the VCK and the IUML extended unconditional outside support. At that time, all these parties said they were continuing in the DMK-led alliance, and their support to the TVK government was aimed at preventing proxy rule by the BJP in the guise of the President’s Rule since no party has secured a simple majority in the Assembly elections. However, when the TVK again requested the VCK and the IUML to join the ministry, they took up the offer after much deliberation.
Ku Pa Krishnan is new TNUHDB chairman
Tiruchy: Ku Pa Krishnan, who unsuccessfully contested from Lalgudi on a TVK ticket against AIADMK’s Leema Rose, was on Friday appointed chairman of the Tamil Nadu Urban Habitat Development Board (TNUHDB) by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay. Describing the post as equivalent to cabinet rank, Krishnan told the media it has brought happiness to the Mutharaiyar community, to which he belongs.
