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Tamil Nadu Minister and Congress leader P Viswanathan on Thursday said the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) are united under Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay-led alliance, asserting, We are very much stronger now.
This is a pure secular alliance. In 2026, after the result of the Assembly election came out, there was a little move to join some other political party to join the BJP. That is why Congress will immediately come out, and now, we are in a good, safe alliance, because this alliance captain is a good captain and a good leader, Viswanathan said. CM Joseph Vijay headed this alliance. We will go together: Congress and VCK, IUML. We are very much stronger now. This is a purely secular alliance, he added. His remarks came a day after the TVK-led ruling alliance formally adopted the name Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance following a meeting of its constituent parties at the TVK headquarters in Panaiyur. The meeting was chaired by Vijay and attended by leaders of the Congress, VCK, Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK), and IUML. TVK MLA Ramkumar said the alliance would seek to distinguish itself through its actions rather than merely its name. Apart from the name, what is going to happen next is what is going to differentiate us from the other alliances, and I'm sure our leader has taken the right decision, Ramkumar said. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president B Manickam Tagore said the alliance had unanimously accepted Vijay as its leader and would function under his leadership in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. He said the alliance was based on secularism and social justice and would contest upcoming bypolls under its new name. The bypolls for Madurantakam (SC) and Dharapuram (SC) seats will be held on October 6, with counting of votes on October 9. Tagore also clarified that Vijays leadership of the state-level alliance should not be linked to the selection of the Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. He said Rahul Gandhi remained the Congress Prime Ministerial candidate, while the INDIA bloc would collectively decide its candidate. The newly named alliance comprises TVK, Congress, VCK, MDMK, and IUML. The CPI and CPI(M) did not attend the meeting and continue to support the TVK government from outside while maintaining their independent political positions. The alliance partners also discussed a Common Minimum Programme and a coordination mechanism for their future functioning. The meeting was the second major coordination meeting of parties supporting the TVK-led government since it assumed office. (ANI)
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