'Wants to function like family': TVK's unity pitch amid alliance strain over AIADMK rebels

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu minister Adhav Arjuna on Wednesday said that chief minister Vijay wanted his cabinet to “function like one family” as cracks appeared in the alliance over the possible induction of rebel AIADMK MLAs into the government.

Speaking to reporters, Arjuna said that Vijay wanted parties that had extended support to the government to be represented in the cabinet.

“CM wants the cabinet to function like one family. He wants the parties that extended support to be represented in the cabinet. DMK and AIADMK attempted to form an alliance that went against the people’s verdict,” the minister said.



Also read | 'I think they will not go to that extent': Shanmugam warns CPM to reconsider support if TVK inducts AIADMK rebels into cabinet

“During the elections, the DMK said that the AIADMK was under the control of the BJP, but later forgot its own ideology and held alliance talks with the AIADMK. Congress and the Left parties united on one front to protect the constitutional system. We will travel together with the AIADMK in a spirit of friendship,” he added.

The remarks came a day after the CPM said it would reconsider its support to the Vijay-led government if it accommodated the rebel AIADMK faction in the cabinet.

Also Read | 2 Congress MLAs to join Vijay govt, no AIADMK rebels for now

Addressing a press conference, CPM leader Shanmugam said the basis for extending support to TVK was to prevent the imposition of President’s Rule and stop the “backdoor entry of BJP rule”.

Shanmugam said the arrangement was intended to ensure governance by a party elected by the people. However, he added that inducting AIADMK rebel members into the council of ministers would go against the mandate and the party’s stand on clean governance.

“No party got a majority and TVK emerged as the single largest party, and so only they had the scope to form the government. With the idea of facilitating governance by a party elected by the people, the Left parties and the VCK extended outside support to the TVK, enabling it to form the government,” he said.

“I think the TVK will not go to that extent (of accommodating the AIADMK rebel group in the cabinet). In the event of the TVK taking such a stand, the CPI(M) will reconsider its support to the TVK,” he added.

TVK had cleared a floor test in the Assembly on May 13 with support from AIADMK rebels, expelled AMMK MLA Kamaraj, Left parties, VCK and IUML.