Chief of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Thol. Thirumavalavan, addressed concerns over candidate selection and internal coordination during the ongoing election process, stating that changes were driven by the need to accommodate new entrants as the party expands.
Reviewing election preparedness, Thirumavalavan said, “On behalf of our party, election work committees have been appointed in all assembly constituencies, and comrades have been working constituency-by-constituency in an organized and excellent manner. Except for a few constituencies, there is information that comrades in a few constituencies did not work in unity. Information about this is being gathered. I convey my appreciation and gratitude to all the comrades who worked on the ground.”
He acknowledged reports of limited internal coordination in certain areas while maintaining that overall campaign work has been structured and effective.
On the issue of candidate selection, Thirumavalavan pointed to rising expectations within the party. He said, “Assembly elections happen once in five years and in every election, many people expect that they will get an opportunity in general constituencies this time. When that opportunity is not given, their disappointmen, this has become a recurring story. Therefore, changing candidates in general constituencies has become unavoidable. Not just in general constituencies, but overall because when we get very few seats, we cannot set aside the position that we must also give opportunities to new people. That demand is rising strongly.”
He further described how internal competition has grown over successive elections, stating, “As the party grows stronger and moves closer to power, the competition among frontline leaders intensifies. In 2001, I had to search with great difficulty for people to put up as candidates. Even in 2006, very few competed for candidacy from us. But in 2011 it increased. In 2016 it increased further. In 2021, competition further grew, roughly ten people competing per constituency.”
Explaining specific decisions not to renominate certain leaders, he said, “The compulsion to take a stand that we must give opportunities to new faces has become necessary. It is on that basis that I could not give an opportunity this time to our brother Shanawaz, who had won in a general constituency, and to our brother SS Balaji.”
Addressing speculation surrounding these decisions, Thirumavalavan added, “But various reasons for this have been stated and debated by many on social media. That is not the truth. None of those reasons are true.”
#JustNow || “ஒரு சில தொகுதிகளில் விசிகவினர் தேர்தல் பணியாற்றவில்லை” – திருமாவளவன்#VCK | #Thirumavalavan | #Election2026 | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/hsxXZ1NOhJ
— Polimer News (@polimernews) May 2, 2026
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
