The induction of VCK nominee Vanni Arasu into the Tamil Nadu Cabinet, headed by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, triggered intense criticism on Friday from second-line leaders and supporters of the DMK, the VCK’s  erstwhile ally. With matters threatening to turn ugly, DMK president and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin intervened and issued a statement appealing to the party leaders not to persist with their criticism.

DMK deputy general secretary and Nilgris MP A. Raja made a sexual reference to describe his displeasure with the VCK’s decision to join the TVK-led government, after the party announced that it was only lending outside support to the TVK, like the CPI and the CPI(M).

In a social media post that was deleted following criticism, Mr. Raja sought to compare the decision of some allies to join the TVK  government with relations outside of marriage. He lamented that the “Pot” (the VCK’s symbol) and the “Ladder” (the IUML’s symbol) have succumbed to the sound of the “Whistle” (the TVK’s symbol).

In a fresh post later, Mr. Raja wondered what could be the political equivalent of a coconut, which has its roots in one garden, but provides coconut water to the opposite house because the tree has “bent and stooped” to the other side.

In a response to a pro-VCK handle which said the party did not grow because of other parties, DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai  appeared to suggest that the VCK had formed an alliance with the DMK  as it wasn’t sure of the TVK’s victory. “Do not engage in mere rhetoric about ‘hard work’ after cunningly diverting the vote bank of the oppressed people to the Opposition. It is the blood and sweat of DMK  cadre that have secured victory for the VCK. Elder Brother Thiruma  [VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan] claimed that members of our party did not work. Why? It wasn’t clear if Vijay’s party would win before the election... so he formed an alliance with the DMK. After the election, the VCK has formed an alliance with the TVK. The people are watching everything,” he said.

However, VCK leaders admit in private that this was a difficult decision for the party after it was in an ideologically cohesive alliance with the DMK for the 2019 Lok Sabha, 2021 Assembly, 2024 Lok Sabha, and 2026 Assembly elections, besides the local bodies elections.

Acknowledging the issues and doubts that surfaced before the election, VCK leaders said the party was able to transfer its votes to the DMK across the northern districts and in Cuddalore and the Cauvery delta region. “It is not fair to speak in this manner after the election. The alliance couldn’t win, and we had to take a decision to form a government. We were part of a mutually advantageous alliance,” said a senior leader.

To cool the temper, Mr. Stalin congratulated Tindivanam MLA and  VCK leader Vanni Arasu on taking charge as the Minister for Social Justice and A.M. Shahjahan on becoming the Minister for Minorities Welfare. “Every party has the right to determine its own political course. Therefore, as your leader, my loving appeal is that at this juncture,  DMK comrades should not use harsh words that would hurt anyone. We follow in the footsteps of Perarignar Anna and Muthamil Arignar  Karunanidhi. We must not forget it. We will function as a constructive Opposition [party] that appreciates the good and criticises the bad,” he said.