Arrogant: VCK slams TVK for seeking support via WhatsApp, says Vijay is misguided

Amid the continuing deadlock over the formation of a new government in Tamil Nadu, the VCK on Friday criticised Vijay’s TVK for allegedly seeking support through WhatsApp messages instead of having the actor-turned-politician personally reach out to political leaders to seek a majority.

Despite securing a sweeping victory in the high-stakes Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, TVK chief Vijay has so far been unable to stake claim to form the government, with the Governor turning him away twice over lack of the required numbers.

Meanwhile in a post on X, VCK general secretary Sinthanai Selvan said, “In a situation where he has not secured a clear majority to form the government, Vijay should have acted with utmost caution. Shouldn’t he have immediately met, face-to-face, the leaders of parties whose support he was seeking?"

"Shouldn’t he have openly discussed the need to avoid falling under the influence of second-rank leaders and the importance of preventing the BJP from entering Tamil Nadu through the Governor? How are we supposed to understand seeking support through a WhatsApp message and asking them to simply reply back?” he queried.

Further in his post, the VCK general secretary also accused sections of TVK leadership of displaying arrogance after the election results and criticised statements mattacking the DMK and speaking in a “vengeful tone” instead of adopting a conciliatory approach needed for coalition-building.

He further mocked TVK’s criticism of “dynastic politics,” pointing out the contradiction of simultaneously seeking support from parties allied with the Congress.

“What logic is there in calling the DMK monarchy politics and then seeking support from its allies without hesitation?” he asked.

The VCK leader also objected strongly to remarks allegedly made by TVK functionaries claiming that VCK cadres were acting as “sleeper cells” within the party.

“There are only around 20 people in VCK including Thiruma. Everyone else is our people — what kind of political morality is it to call them sleeper cells?” he said.

Selvan further alleged that some TVK leaders were using Vijay’s popularity and star image to pursue personal political vendettas against the DMK, while keeping the actor-politician politically isolated.

He also criticised TVK’s decision to move its MLAs to resorts after the election, saying it had reintroduced “resort politics” in Tamil Nadu.

Warning of a larger constitutional crisis, Selvan alleged that the BJP was attempting to engineer Governor’s rule in the state and urged the people of Tamil Nadu to remain vigilant against any move that bypasses democratic norms.

TVK emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats but remained 10 short of the majority mark in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Since Vijay won from two constituencies, TVK’s effective strength currently stands at 107 MLAs. With the support of Congress’s five MLAs, the alliance tally has reached 113 — still five less than the 118 needed to form the government.

Meanwhile, speculation is also rife over a dramatic alliance between long-time rivals DMK and AIADMK to prevent Vijay from assuming power.

Amid the speculation, TVK has reportedly warned that all its 107 MLAs would resign if such an arrangement materialises.