CHENNAI: While extending support to Vijay’s Tamiliga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) for the formation of the govt in Tamil Nadu, Left parties on Friday clarified that they would continue to work with DMK to safeguard the state’s interest and rights. “We will not be part of the govt, but will extend support from outside,” CPI state secretary P Shanmugam told reporters here.Both CPM and CPI on Friday extended letters of support for TVK to form the govt. TVK has got the support of Congress (5 seats), CPI (2) and CPM (2). TVK is likely to cross the magic number of 118 as it is expecting a positive response from the VCK leader, whose party has two MLAs.Shanmugam said VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan would soon declare his party’s decision on extending support to TVK. This decision is expected to align with the Left parties’ stand of supporting TVK to form the next govt. “VCK has also said that they will take the same decision as CPI and CPM. Soon, the VCK leader will announce that to you,” Shanmugam told reporters at a joint press meet with CPM state secretary M Veerapandian. Earlier, Thirumavalavan had stated that they would hold a high-level committee meeting regarding TVK’s proposal. He, however, noted that the party’s decision would mirror that of the Left parties.While responding to a question about whether pressure from the DMK led the Secular Progressive Alliance to stop them from extending support to TVK, Shanmugam rejected the claim categorically. He said DMK leader M K Stalin had never asked them to oppose TVK or its efforts to form a govt. “The DMK leader has asserted that they wish to be the opposition party. We are independent parties. We have taken our own decision,” he said, questioning why they should ask another party to decide for them.“We are endorsing the people’s mandate by extending our support. We have taken this decision to thwart governor’s Rule in Tamil Nadu,” said Veerapandian.
