Chennai : Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) has assured its allies that rebel AIADMK MLAs extending support to the government will not be accommodated in the cabinet. The clarification came after speculation that a section of breakaway AIADMK legislators backing the TVK-led government could be rewarded with ministerial berths during the upcoming cabinet expansion.
“I had said this a few days ago. If TVK welcomes the rebel AIADMK group and gives them cabinet posts, we may have to reconsider our support,” Thirumavalavan said. He, however, said the VCK had since received an assurance from TVK that no such move was being planned. “We have received information that there are no such attempts. TVK has informed us that there will be no cabinet posts for the rebel AIADMK faction,” the VCK leader said.
The assurance comes as Chief Minister Vijay prepares for a major cabinet expansion, with the Congress likely to get two berths. TVK general secretary Aadhav Arjuna said earlier in the day that the Chief Minister would soon announce the expansion and that the party remained open to power-sharing with allies. Aadhav said Vijay wanted to accommodate parties that had stood for social justice, especially the Congress, which supported the TVK-led government. He said the Chief Minister had insisted that the Congress join the cabinet.
“TVK is open to power-sharing. Tamil Nadu will see power-sharing for the first time since 1967,” Aadhav said, adding that the Congress, VCK and IUML had been invited to join the cabinet. Vijay assumed office as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on May 10 and was sworn in along with nine ministers, including N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna and KA Sengottaiyan. The expansion is expected as the newly formed government prepares for its first full-fledged Assembly session and key administrative decisions in the coming weeks.
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