Published Oct 03, 2026 | 4:15 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 03, 2026 | 4:15 PM
Leaders and representatives of Tamil Nadu INDIA bloc parties attend a meeting at Sathyamurthy Bhavan in Chennai on October 3, 2026.
Synopsis: Not only did the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam participate in a Tamil Nadu INDIA bloc meeting in Chennai for the first time, but it also said the INDIA bloc is the “larger version” of its Tamil Nadu alliance. Is the TVK changing its positioning on the national stage?
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s participation in a key meeting of the Tamil Nadu INDIA bloc parties held at Sathyamurthy Bhavan in Chennai on Saturday to discuss protests and field-level activities over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and concerns raised by the parties regarding the Election Commission has turned heads.
This is the first time the TVK has participated in an INDIA bloc meeting in Tamil Nadu. The party was represented by election wing general secretary and Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna and Finance Minister Maria Wilson. The TVK had not participated in earlier INDIA bloc meetings in Delhi.
The meeting was also attended by leaders and representatives of alliance parties, including MDMK general secretary Vaiko, VCK president and MP Thol. Thirumavalavan, CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam, CPI National Council member Dr GR Ravindranath and IUML general secretary KAM Mohammed Abubacker.
Explaining the party’s participation in the meeting, TVK national spokesperson Felix Gerald said, “The INDIA alliance is the larger version of the Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance formed in Tamil Nadu under the leadership of TVK. Technically, we are part of that alliance, and we are participating in today’s meeting on that basis.”
The TVK-led alliance, formally named the Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance, includes Congress, VCK, MDMK and IUML. The alliance was announced in September, with Vijay as its leader.
CPI Tamil Nadu state secretary M Veerapandian, who was present at the Congress headquarters, spoke to South First about TVK’s participation in the meeting. He said that anyone willing to join hands against the BJP would be welcome.
Veerapandian also said that, ideally, both the TVK and DMK should come together and raise their voice against the BJP.
The remarks assume significance because TVK has sought to maintain its own political identity while simultaneously working with parties that are part of the INDIA bloc at the national level.
The sudden participation of TVK became a talking point among the alliance parties.
According to leaders South First spoke to in connection with the meeting, there had been no clear communication of TVK’s participation to all alliance leaders ahead of the meeting.
Earlier on Saturday morning, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president B Manickam Tagore had posted about the INDIA bloc meeting on social media and referred to leaders of the other alliance parties being there. However, there was no mention in that post of TVK.
TVK’s participation therefore came as a late development, with the party subsequently joining the consultation.
The meeting was held against the backdrop of the opposition parties’ campaign over the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
The parties have raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the revision process and have questioned the functioning and autonomy of the Election Commission. The INDIA bloc has also been demanding action against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The issue has already been discussed by INDIA bloc leaders at the national level, including at a September 30 meeting in Delhi.
TVK’s participation is significant because the party had earlier maintained that it was not formally part of the INDIA bloc at the national level.
When the TVK-led alliance was formally named in September, questions were raised about whether Vijay’s party would join the INDIA bloc. At the time, TVK leaders had indicated that the party did not have MPs and therefore was not part of the parliamentary INDIA bloc.
A sustained Vijay for PM campaign had added further question marks.
The latest participation creates a different political picture in Tamil Nadu.
The development comes just days after TVK and its allies held their first joint campaign meeting in Madurantakam ahead of the October 6 bypoll. Congress state president Manickam Tagore, VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, MDMK leader Vaiko and IUML leaders shared the platform with TVK leaders at the campaign event.
With TVK now participating in an INDIA bloc consultation as well, the party’s relationship with the national opposition formation is likely to remain a subject of political discussion, particularly as Vijay’s party seeks to balance its Tamil Nadu alliance structure, its opposition to the BJP on electoral issues, and its separate political positioning against the DMK.
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TN bypoll: Move over Vijay, Vanniyar factor and Maragatham’s ground connect matter at Maduranthakam
(Edited by R Rajesh Kumar.)
