Chennai, Dec 9 (NationPress) The Dalit political party of Tamil Nadu, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), has declared a six-month suspension for its Deputy General Secretary, Aadhav Arjuna.

The suspension was enacted by the party’s founder and Member of Parliament Thol. Thirumavalavan, who cited actions harmful to the party's interests as the reason behind this decision.

Thirumavalavan clarified that the suspension was a result of discussions held on December 7 with the party’s general secretaries and senior leaders, assessing the repercussions of Arjuna’s actions which had attracted considerable criticism.

“In spite of numerous directives from the party leadership, he has persistently acted in a manner that is counterproductive. While his actions may seem to support the party’s interests at first glance, they have resulted in intense public backlash, damaging the party’s reputation and credibility,” stated Thirumavalavan.

The VCK leader, representing the Chidambaram (SC) constituency in the Lok Sabha, further emphasized that Arjuna's conduct had disturbed the discipline of the party and fostered a negative environment.

He cautioned that such behavior could establish a poor precedent for other party members. “Given these circumstances and focusing on the party’s well-being, the leadership committee — which includes the party leader and general secretaries — has resolved to suspend Arjuna for six months,” he added.

Sources indicated that the immediate cause for the suspension was Arjuna’s recent remarks at a book launch, where he sharply criticized the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leadership.

The VCK is presently allied with the DMK in Tamil Nadu, a partnership that contributed to the party securing two Lok Sabha seats in the 2024 elections.

During his speech, Arjuna openly called for a coalition government in the state and targeted the DMK for supposed governance shortcomings, dynastic politics, and excessive dependence on coalition allies.

This is not the first instance of Arjuna’s statements stirring controversy. His recent comments have faced backlash from within the VCK, with many members believing he has overstepped his authority.