Amid the upcoming book launch ceremony titled ‘Ambedkar: A Leader for All’ in Chennai on 6 December 2024, organized jointly by Vikatan Publications and Deputy General Secretary Aadhav Arjuna, which features 20 interviews and 45 articles on Dr Ambedkar’s life and work, there was initial expectation that both Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) Chief Thirumavalavan and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader and actor-turned-politician Vijay would share the stage. However, VCK Chief Thirumavalavan later declined to participate, leading to widespread speculation that his absence was due to pressure from the DMK.
It seems the rift within the VCK is coming to a head like never before, with the party’s Deputy General Secretaries openly at odds. One is determined to maintain the status quo within the DMK alliance, while the other seeks to explore new opportunities.
In this context, VCK Deputy General Secretary Vanni Arasu criticized TVK Chief Vijay and defended the DMK, stating that no influence from the DMK had led to Thirumavalavan’s decision to skip the event.
He expressed a warning post on his official X account stating, “#Warning Revolutionaries cannot be packaged! Our leader @thirumaofficial has been fighting for more than a quarter of a century, accepting revolutionary Ambedkar, father Periyar and Karl Marx as his ideological mentors. He has been working uncompromisingly for the rights of Tamil Nadu and for the liberation of oppressed women and Dalits. Just as he vigorously opposed the Sanathana gang during the election boycott, he has been fighting even after coming to the election path.Today, it is the leopards who are trying to resist the Sanathana gang in Tamil Nadu. No one can lead our leader from behind, who is leading such a great movement. Some political brokers are trying to do so.”
“They are suggesting that our leader did not attend the book launch ceremony titled ‘Ambedkar: A Leader for All’, which is scheduled to be held tomorrow, December 6, due to pressure from the DMK. In 2001, leader Thirumavalavan contested for the first time in the DMK alliance from Mangalore constituency and won. He resigned from the post of MLA in 2003. If he wanted the post, he could have listened to the DMK leader and continued in office. But our leader resigned from office because policy was important to him. It is a political tragedy that some brokers are trying to pull such a principled leader to their wish. Some media houses in Tamil Nadu are trying to do politics using the name of revolutionary Ambedkar. Rather than the success of Ambedkar’s policies, they are striving to achieve the success of their political conspiracy. Some former journalists who did not fight against media houses that threw away the labor rights and security laws that revolutionary Ambedkar had laid off. Instead, the journalists are criticizing our leader for selfish reasons, who has always spoken for the rights of journalists,” he added.
Taking a dig at TVK chief Vijay, the VCK leader stated, “Our leader did not say that he would not come to the book launch event on Ambedkar. He only said that he could not share the stage with someone who, without any understanding of the revolutionary Ambedkar, holds the Constitution in one hand and the Bhagavad Gita in the other and makes a conciliatory ‘payasam’. But the book publishers have ignored our leader and went ahead that they need the Payasam. That’s their choice. But promoting the false propaganda that our leader has ignored the program is not only insulting our leader but also insulting the revolutionary Ambedkar. Book publishers should understand one thing: the revolutionary Ambedkar and the rebellious Tamilians are like fire. No one can package them.”
On the other hand, Aadhav Arjuna, the other Deputy General Secretary of the VCK and the main force behind organizing the book release, is advocating for a better opportunity for the party than its current alliance with the DMK. He believes the DMK has failed to empower the VCK, despite the party having 4 MLAs and 2 MPs. As a result, Aadhav Arjuna has been consistently criticizing the DMK, seizing every opportunity to do so. He is also the one who has been vocal about the need for a “share in governance and power.”
Aadhav Arjuna was impressed by actor-turned-politician and TVK chief Vijay, who, in his maiden speech had promised a share in governance and power, and it resonated with the VCK’s current aspirations. Seizing the opportunity, Arjuna sought to arrange a meeting between Vijay and VCK leader Thirumavalavan. However, the DMK allegedly used its influence within the VCK to oppose Arjuna’s plan, even raising the other Deputy General Secretary against him. Despite this, Arjuna’s maneuver resonated strongly with the party cadres, who believe that a new alliance, possibly with the AIADMK or the newly formed TVK, would open more opportunities for dialogue and allow the party to assert its presence and aspirations.
Praising Former Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha
Even after his initial plan to align the VCK with TVK was thwarted, Aadhav Arjuna continued to pursue new opportunities. On 5 December 2024, he strategically praised former Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha, posting this tribute just a day before his scheduled meeting with Thirumavalavan and Vijay at his book launch. The post was widely seen as an indirect criticism of the DMK, signaling Arjuna’s continued efforts to advance his political agenda for the VCK.
Aadhav Arjuna via his official X account stated, “A female personality who stood out in a field dominated by men in politics as well as society. Honorable former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, a great achiever who defeated all the intrigues against her by holding on to her wit and courage. In the history of Tamil Nadu elections, she is known as the only personality who fielded her party’s candidates alone in all 234 assembly constituencies in the 2016 elections and achieved victory in them. On her death anniversary, let us remember the admirable contributions of Honorable former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, an uncompromising iron lady who never gave up the interests and rights of Tamil Nadu to the Union Government.”
Criticizing DMK’s Poor Flood Management
The day before, Aadhav Arjuna criticized the DMK government’s handling of disaster management, stating, “When will we wake up? The northern districts have been devastated by the cyclone and floods. Tamil Nadu has been facing natural disasters continuously for the past decade. But it is regrettable that the infrastructure has not been put in place to deal with it. At the same time, the state of Odisha, which is facing severe natural disasters, has put in place proper infrastructure facilities and measures to protect the people. Therefore, the people there are not exposed to natural disasters to a large extent. But, in Tamil Nadu too, every time people are affected by natural disasters, it is customary for the government to give only the reasons for it. Human lives have been lost due to this and the situation where people are struggling for basic needs like food and clothing is very sad. The question remains, what lesson have we learned from these problems?… My deepest condolences to the families and relatives of those who lost their lives in this disaster. Moreover, this storm has completely destroyed the economy and livelihoods of the simple people of this region. Many are struggling even for basic food. Therefore, I request the government to accelerate its work on a war footing.”
“The government needs to set up call centers to quickly assess the situation of the affected people. Since roads are cut off in many areas, even volunteers are unable to provide assistance. Therefore, the government needs to set up call centers in the affected areas and coordinate everyone, including volunteers. Since the rescue operations need to reach the most vulnerable people, it is necessary for the government to collect information and needs of the affected people through these call centers. This will create an opportunity for the public and volunteers across Tamil Nadu to provide assistance to the affected people. Volunteers like us are ready to provide assistance to the people affected by this great tragedy. It is a moral act for the government to use it for the needs of the people,” he added.
“If a by-election comes, how does the ruling party appoint a minister and MP for every twenty booths and carry out field work like a ‘spin’ showing their enthusiasm for election victory, while the people are now in great distress, why is the government machinery not working to solve the basic needs of the affected people in a by-election style? It is necessary for the entire cabinet to participate in this work. The government should quickly eliminate the suffering of the poor and simple people who are struggling for basic needs by appointing ministers and in-charges for the affected areas at the micro level, especially at the branch and panchayat levels,” he further added
Aadhav Arjuna criticized the DMK government’s handling of disaster management, stressing the immediate need for medical teams and precautionary measures, particularly due to the risk of epidemics affecting marginalized communities in the aftermath of floods. He argued that Tamil Nadu has the right to demand disaster relief funds from the Union Government, and there should be no compromise on this matter. He condemned the Union Government for its continued neglect of Tamil Nadu, withholding relief funds, and urged the state to provide swift relief to Dalits, the poor, and farmers impacted by the disaster.
Arjuna emphasized that the government should not use the Union Government’s inaction as an excuse to delay assistance. He also called for a self-reliant economic model to address the immediate needs of food, clothing, and shelter for the people. Pointing to the devastating losses caused by climate change-induced natural disasters in recent years, he advocated for the creation of a committee of disaster and sectoral experts to develop a comprehensive disaster management plan for the state, similar to those in place in states like Odisha. Arjuna concluded with a call for vigilance and readiness in tackling future natural disasters, quoting, “If there is no food for an individual, we will destroy this world!”.
Asserting How DMK Needs VCK For In North TN
This is not the first time. Previously, VCK Deputy General Secretary Aadhav Arjuna claimed that the DMK could not win in the north without VCK’s support, stating in a private media interview, “In the north constituencies in TN, without VCK’s vote bank, DMK cannot win. You can check statistics for yourself. We have that much of an influence. If DMK has to win 50 out of 58 constituencies in north TN, they can win in the delta region, in the south it is 50-50, in the west it is difficult, only then they can cross 120. Since 1996, they have never formed a majority government. The victory in the northern constituencies is important for the DMK and VCK has a 60% share in it. 100% votes from Dalits and OBCs will vote for VCK. Everyone fights for the elections and wins but the victory is enjoyed only by DMK.”
Taking Jabs At DMK Scion Udhayanidhi Stalin
Earlier, speaking at a housewarming event in Madurai, Arjuna highlighted the need for a shift in political leadership to empower Dalit communities to shape their own futures. In a subtle jab at DMK scion and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, he remarked, “Here, one alone is not born to rule.”
“We are working to create a political movement that can challenge and dismantle oppressive mindsets,” Arjuna stated. “The fight against honor killings must begin in schools, and we need to make public the data on over 10 lakh acres of Panchami lands that should be allocated to affected communities.”
Arjuna also criticized the overemphasis on caste identity, responding to social media discussions about his own caste. “I don’t even know what my caste is,” he said, emphasizing that his alliance with VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan is based on shared values and principles, not caste. “Dalit politics is not about caste; it’s about humanity,” he added.
Criticizing the DMK indirectly, he said, “We have been waiting for the problems to come, only with problems solutions will arrive. It’s enough being quiet and patient. We’ve been waiting quietly for over a thousand years. They claim this is an ideological alliance, a power alliance and so if that’s the case, then give us the power. Shouldn’t the power be given to Dalit people, then this ideological alliance is not a power-sharing alliance. Here, one alone not born to rule.”
Arjuna continued to advocate for the realization of Thirumavalavan’s vision, expressing his confidence in its success. “Thirumavalavan’s dreams will be realized soon,”
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