DMK calls Vijay ‘opportunist’, mocks TVK alliance as ‘cash-box alliance’

The DMK on Friday attacked Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay over the political alliance he has formed with the Congress, VCK, IUML and MDMK, calling him an “opportunist” and describing the ruling TVK-led combine as an “Opportunistic Cash-box Alliance”.

The attack came in an editorial published by the DMK's Tamil mouthpiece Murasoli, which focused on the contrast between Vijay's pre-election statements and the alliances he has entered into after coming to power.

Referring to the newly named Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance, the editorial took a dig at a photograph released by the TVK showing Vijay with TNCC chief B Manickam Tagore, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, IUML leader KM Khader Mohideen and MDMK leader Vaiko.

Murasoli recalled Vijay's earlier description of the DMK-led alliance as a “broken glass” that had been pieced together and a torn piece of cloth that had been stitched back. It said Vijay had also dismissed several parties as “and others” during the election campaign.

Murasoli said Vijay had once portrayed these parties as politically unworthy of being named, but was now sharing the stage with their leaders as partners in his government.

The editorial also recalled Vijay's criticism of the Congress, citing his remark that the party had been “sold out to the DMK”. It questioned what Vijay had given in return to bring the Congress into his own alliance.

It was in this context that the DMK mouthpiece revived Vijay's earlier description of alliances as “cash-box alliances”. It mocked the new TVK-led combine as an “Opportunistic Cash-box Alliance”, arguing that Vijay's present political arrangement was at odds with the positions he had taken before the elections.

The editorial then questioned how Vijay secured the numbers needed to form the government. It claimed that the TVK did not win the 118 seats required for a majority and had to depend on support from its alliance partners.

According to Murasoli, five Congress nominees, two VCK candidates and two IUML candidates won from the DMK alliance, while two MDMK candidates also won, contesting on the DMK's Rising Sun symbol.

The editorial alleged that Vijay offered ministerial positions to alliance partners to secure their support, claiming that Congress was given two ministerial posts and VCK and IUML one each.

It also accused Vijay of horse-trading, citing Vaiko's earlier claim that the chief minister had asked two MDMK legislators to resign. Murasoli said Vaiko repeated the allegation at his party's general council meeting.

The DMK daily further recalled earlier criticism of Vijay by VCK chief Thirumavalavan, who had questioned Vijay's focus on welfare schemes and accused him of trying to break the DMK-led alliance.

The editorial pointed out that Thirumavalavan and the other leaders now stand alongside Vijay in the new alliance.

Concluding its attack, Murasoli said the change in political positions showed “opportunism” and argued that the new alliance could be described using Vijay's own earlier language.

The editorial ended by saying it was merely borrowing Vijay's words and therefore there was no reason for anyone to be angry.