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Journalism of Courage
Following his recent attacks on ally DMK, leading to questions over the alignment of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) with the ruling alliance, the axe seems to have finally fallen on VCK leader Aadhava Arjuna, the son-in-law of controversial “lottery king” Santiago Martin.
VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan on Monday suspended Arjuna claiming his activities had caused “severe harm to the party’s reputation and goodwill” while asserting his party’s commitment to discipline and unity amid growing “internal and external” pressures.
The action is also being seen as an effort by Thirumavalavan, one of the state’s tallest Dalit leaders, to reaffirm his control over the party and its alignment with the DMK-led ruling coalition.
“The party’s high-level executive committee met on December 7, as previously planned, to address the accusations against Arjuna and assess his activities. Until the committee deliberates on the accusations, Arjuna stands suspended from all positions and responsibilities within the party. This includes removing his authority to act on behalf of the party and any decision-making power. Given the necessity of upholding discipline and safeguarding the party’s image, this disciplinary action is deemed unavoidable. Arjuna is temporarily relieved of his official duties pending further investigation,” the statement said.
A basketball player-cum-gym trainer, Arjuna was once a close aide of Chief Minister M K Stalin’s son-in-law, Sabareesan, and during the 2021 Assembly polls, was seen to be a “DMK insider” in the know of the party’s political and strategic operations. He was also an integral part of the DMK’s seat-sharing negotiations with smaller allies like the VCK.
Arjuna fell out with the DMK after he was overlooked for Lok Sabha polls and joined the VCK as its deputy general secretary earlier this year.
Arjuna’s suspension comes in the backdrop of his remarks at a recent high-profile event to launch a book, “Ellarukumana Thalaivar Ambedkar (Ambedkar: A leader for all)” organised by a prominent Tamil publication and Arjuna’s band strategy firm, Voice of Common. The VCK leader accused the DMK of leading a “monarch’s rule” in the state and alleged that the Stalin-led party was “controlling the Tamil film industry using its political power”.
The event also saw actor-turned-politician Vijay, who recently floated his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and was the chief guest, come down heavily on the ruling alliance questioning whether the VCK chief’s absence was “due to pressure from the DMK”. “Thirumavalavan cannot even attend the release of a book honouring Ambedkar,” the TVK chief had said.
