VCK weighs joining TVK cabinet as Thirumavalavan signals deliberations
Synopsis
VCK chief Thirumavalavan has signalled his party will deliberate on a renewed TVK invitation to join the Vijay cabinet — a potential turning point for a party that offered unconditional support despite winning just two seats. A key assurance that AIADMK rebels won't enter the ministry has cleared the biggest hurdle, making a formal coalition entry increasingly likely.
Key Takeaways
VCK President Thol Thirumavalavan on 20 May said the party would hold internal consultations on joining the TVK -led cabinet.
TVK leadership assured Thirumavalavan that rebel AIADMK legislators would not be inducted into the cabinet — a key VCK precondition.
A VCK high-level virtual committee meeting on 8 May saw a majority of senior functionaries reportedly favour joining the government.
The VCK won only two seats but extended unconditional support to the Vijay government during formation.
Final decision will follow consultations with General Secretaries , Treasurer , and Principal Secretary of the party.
Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) President Thol Thirumavalavan on Wednesday, 20 May indicated that his party would hold internal consultations on Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) renewed offer to bring the VCK into the C. Joseph Vijay-led cabinet in Tamil Nadu. The development has intensified speculation that the party could soon secure a ministerial berth in the Vijay government.
Background: From Outside Support to Cabinet Talks
The VCK had previously maintained a strictly external support arrangement with the Vijay government, choosing to back it from outside to ensure political stability and to guard against any possible intervention by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government during the government formation process. That posture now appears to be shifting, following a fresh outreach from the TVK leadership.
Key Assurance on AIADMK Rebels
A central concern for the VCK had been the potential induction of rebel AIADMK legislators into the cabinet. Thirumavalavan confirmed that the TVK leadership had conveyed to him that no such inductions would take place — a clarification he described as significant, given that the VCK had earlier warned it would reconsider its support if AIADMK dissidents were accommodated in the ministry.
He also acknowledged Minister Aadhav Arjuna for publicly reiterating TVK's desire to bring the VCK into the government structure.
The Political Signal and VCK's Position
Thirumavalavan recalled that TVK President Vijay had openly invited the VCK to join hands politically during the release of the book 'Ellorukkumana Thalaivar Ambedkar'. The VCK interpreted that statement as a significant political signal at the time, though electoral circumstances had prevented the party from formally joining the TVK alliance ahead of the polls.
Notably, the VCK had held a virtual high-level committee meeting on 8 May, during which a majority of senior party functionaries reportedly favoured joining the government. Power-sharing has remained a long-standing political aspiration for the party, which had limited leverage in its earlier alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) owing to the latter's dominant numerical strength.
What Thirumavalavan Said
'We did not demand ministerial positions as a precondition for extending support. We offered unconditional support solely for government formation despite winning only two seats,' Thirumavalavan said, addressing reporters.
He emphasised that participation in governance forms part of the party's broader political vision. The VCK chief added that the party would now hold detailed discussions with its senior office-bearers — including the General Secretaries, Treasurer, and Principal Secretary — before arriving at a final decision on joining the cabinet.
What Comes Next
The outcome of those internal deliberations is expected to determine whether the VCK transitions from a supporting partner to a formal constituent of the Vijay government. A positive decision would mark a significant realignment in Tamil Nadu's coalition politics and could reshape the balance of influence within the ruling dispensation.
Point of View
Thirumavalavan is now extracting a structural concession — the exclusion of AIADMK rebels — before formalising the arrangement. What is notable is the sequence: the high-level committee meeting on 8 May preceded the public signalling, suggesting the decision is already largely made and the deliberation is as much about optics as substance. For TVK, accommodating the VCK broadens its social coalition and insulates it from Dalit-vote attrition. The real question is whether a single ministerial berth will satisfy VCK's base, which has long chafed at being a junior partner without proportionate influence.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is VCK considering joining the TVK cabinet now?
The VCK is reconsidering its outside-support arrangement after TVK renewed its invitation and assured the party that rebel AIADMK legislators would not be given cabinet berths — a condition Thirumavalavan had previously set. A majority of VCK's senior functionaries also reportedly backed the move at an internal meeting on 8 May 2025.
What was VCK's earlier position on the Vijay government?
The VCK had chosen to support the C. Joseph Vijay-led TVK government from outside, without joining the cabinet. It said the support was unconditional and aimed at ensuring political stability and preventing BJP intervention during government formation.
What assurance did TVK give to VCK?
TVK leadership conveyed to Thirumavalavan that rebel AIADMK legislators would not be inducted into the cabinet. This was a critical assurance, as the VCK chief had earlier warned the party would reconsider its support if such inductions occurred.
How many seats did VCK win in the Tamil Nadu elections?
The VCK won two seats in the Tamil Nadu assembly elections, yet extended unconditional support to the TVK government for its formation without demanding ministerial posts as a precondition.
What is the next step for VCK on the cabinet decision?
Thirumavalavan said the party will hold detailed consultations with its senior office-bearers, including the General Secretaries, Treasurer, and Principal Secretary, before arriving at a final decision on joining the Vijay cabinet.
