The PMK announced neutrality in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram by-elections, sparking intense speculation about its future alliance with the TVK. While the PMK eyes a government role for Sowmiya Anbumani, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan said on Thursday that rumours about his party leaving the coalition were being spread deliberately.
PMK's neutrality in two Tamil Nadu bypolls has intensified speculation over its possible alliance with TVK and the political future of the state coalition.
The PMK, which won four MLA seats as an ally of the AIADMK in the May elections, is now projecting itself to be in the political crossroads after it announced 'neutrality' in the by-elections to Madurantakam and Dharapuram constituencies while speculations raged on the party joining the TVK government with their leader in the Assembly Sowmiya Anbumani becoming a Minister.
With neither the PMK nor the TVK honchos clarifying on the PMK's likely entry into the coalition - recently christened as Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance - fears mounted on the possibility of the VCK, which has one minister in the Cabinet, continuing in the government.
The fears were dispelled by VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, who said on Thursday that the rumours were being spread deliberately, while VCK representative in the Cabinet Vanni Arasu reaffirmed his party's commitment not be part of any coalition in which the PMK or the BJP was a part.
But going by prevailing political trends, the PMK is keen on joining hands with the TVK. The party leaders reportedly spurned attempts by AIADMK leaders to meet them after it announced that it would not support the AIADMK in the by-elections, indicating a cutting of ties forever.
The TVK that is maintaining a silence on PMK joining them is said to be actually keeping its fingers crossed, waiting for the results of the two by-elections, mainly because the two Communist parties have started to speak openly against the government. CPM state secretary accused the TVK of lacking in transparency, indicating its displeasure over the government.
Since the VCK, too, had said that its decisions would be based on what the Communists parties did there is a possibility of the VCK leaving the alliance if the CPI and CPM withdrew support to the government. In such a scenario, the TVK might need the support of the PMK and hence the question of roping in the PMK into the government is allowed to hang fire.
With the PMK cadre exulting over the possibility of Sowmiya Anbumani becoming a minister, there is a likelihood of churning in State politics because the AIADMK might completely lose its ally, the PMK if it were to join the government.
In such an eventuality, the TVK coalition would become stronger and not bothered about the pulls and pushes of the two Communists parties that have of late started taking firm stands against government decisions, say like the construction of the Secretariat built in Foreshore Estate and many other issues. But it all depends on which way the PMK swings.