PMK flags at Vijay roadshow fuel speculation of shift towards TVK

The presence of people carrying Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) flags at Chief Minister and TVK president C Joseph Vijay’s roadshow in Madurantakam on Friday has fuelled speculation that the party could be moving closer to the ruling TVK.

The PMK contested the April Assembly election as part of the AIADMK-led alliance. For the October 6 bypolls, however, it has chosen to remain neutral, neither backing the AIADMK nor fielding candidates in Madurantakam and Dharapuram.

The party has four MLAs.

PMK sources said there had been no official instruction to support TVK and suggested the flags may have been carried by enthusiastic cadres or individual supporters. PMK chief Anbumani Ramadoss has also criticised TVK candidate Maragatham Kumaravel over her resignation from the AIADMK and subsequent move to TVK.

The presence of PMK flags is nevertheless significant because the party has a support base in Madurantakam, where even a partial transfer of its votes could affect the contest. The AIADMK is seeking to retain the seat won by Kumaravel in the Assembly election before she resigned as MLA, quit the party, and joined TVK. She has been renominated by TVK.

The bypoll is also important for AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami and Vijay’s minority government, which is short of the majority mark. Victories in Madurantakam and Dharapuram would strengthen TVK’s numbers and provide political momentum.

Vijay has campaigned intensively in Madurantakam, spending two days in the constituency and holding a roadshow through more than 30 villages covering about 45 km.

TVK has projected itself as an alternative to the AIADMK and DMK. Its sources have indicated that the party hopes to build an inclusive alliance potentially involving the PMK and VCK. However, the VCK has repeatedly ruled out an alliance with the PMK, its longstanding political rival.

For the PMK, neutrality could preserve its bargaining position regardless of the bypoll outcome, making the October 6 result significant for Tamil Nadu’s wider alliance equations.