Karnataka: Thirumavalavan’s VCK Declares Support for Congress in 3 Crucial Seats

The Karnataka Unit of the Viduthalai Chiruthai Katchi (VCK) led by Thol Thirumavalavan has declared its support for the Indian National Congress (INC) in three crucial seats that it was contesting in Karnataka. Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru South and Kolar are three Parliamentary Constituencies where the chances for the Indian National Congress considerably improve with this historic development.

On Tuesday, April 23, after a meeting with chief minister, Karnataka Siddaramaiah and deputy chief minister, DK Shivakumar, Thol Thirumavalavan announced the decision to join hands in the election campaigning in the state on the social media platform “X”.

“Today (23-04-2024) in Bengaluru we personally met Karnataka State Chief Minister Hon’ble Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister Hon’ble DK Shivakumar and expressed our support.  Also, we met some important leaders of the Congress Party in person and consulted about election campaigning in Karnataka.

As two-phase elections are going to be held in Karnataka state, and the campaigning for the first phase of the election will be completed by tomorrow evening. I will support the India

Alliance Party candidates in the second phase of campaigning and conduct election campaigning in some areas where Tamils are the majority.”

All three seats go to the polls on Friday April 26. Karnataka with 28 seats is crucial for the INDIA alliance in the 18th Lok Sabha Polls, Of the 28 seats, Udupi Chikmagalur, Hassan, Dakshina Kannada, Chitradurga, Tumkur, Mandya, Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Bangalore Rural, Bangalore North, Bangalore Central, Bangalore South, Chikkballapur and Kolar vote on Friday, April 26. Bengaluru Rural, Bengaluru South and Kolar are constituencies with a hearvy Tamil Dalit population. The rest of Karnataka’s seats vote in the next phase on May 7.

Announcing the formal decision to the media on Tuesday, the Karnataka state President of VCK, Chandrashekhar announced that the decision was being taken in the wider interests of the country, to Save the Constitution. He state that “VCK could not be the reason for the defeat of Congress and victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).” Chandrsahekhar himself from Bengaluru Rural, Rajkumar from Bengaluru South and Hallivennu from Kolar had been the declared candidates of the VCK prior to this significant decision.

Before arriving in Bengaluru from Chennai, on Saturday, April 20, Thol Thirumavalavan hinted at this decision. The Hindu reported that the Viduthalai Chiruthai Katchi (VCK) leader and MP Thol. Thirumavalavan hinted on April 18 itself that he would campaign for Congress candidates contesting in the Karnataka general election. Speaking to media persons in Chennai, he said the DMK front in Tamil Nadu was strong and the alliance partners maintained a cordial relationship. The VCK and the DMK worked together on many issues, including social justice and equality. Thirumavalavan also said in Chennai that the Congress would emerge victorious in Karnataka election slated for next month and announced his intention of addressing rallies in the state seeking votes for Congress candidates.

When queried by reporters on the deteriorating situation of “law and order” IN Karnataka, Chandrshekhar was categorical: the Siddaramaiah –led government that came to power in May 2023 had been successful in reaching its five guarantees to the people and this has had a huge impact especially among rural women and with no issue to raise this was a false flag raised by a discredited BJP, he said.

 Viduthalai Chiruthai Katchi (VCK)

The iconic Dalit Panthers of Iyyakam was formed in Madurai, Tamil Nadu under the leadership of Malalchami inspired by the Dalit Panthers Movement of India formed earlier in the 1970s in Maharashtra. Thirumavalavan become its leader in 1989, after the death of the founder. Through the 1990s the party expanded by highlighting issues of discrimination and caste-based violence. It was in 1999 that the VCK contested elections for the first time. VCK has been allotted different election symbols in every election. In 2014, Madras HC ordered the Election Commission of India to consider VCK’s request for ‘star” as their election symbol.