Vaiko stuns party workers, opts out of poll race

MDMK chief and a key architect of the DMDK-PWF-TMC combine Vaiko on Monday stunned his supporters by going back on his decision to contest the May 16 Assembly polls alleging the DMK was planning to create caste violence. He, however, vowed to work hard for the victory of the front, of which his party is a key constituent.

The announcement stunned his supporters, who had thronged to hear him speak from an open-top propaganda van here, as Vaiko had earlier announced his decision to contest from the Kovilpatti segment after a hiatus of two decades. Vaiko alleged the “plan” was to “create violence” between the “Thevar and Naicker communities” in the constituency. He said the violence, according to the plan, “would be centred around him”, a remark seen as an implied reference to his Naicker caste.

Naming the DMK, he said, “I also came to know that the district secretaries (Tuticorin and Virudhunagar) of the party encouraged the violence idea and I was terribly grieved.” “My heart swirls in pain and I shudder to even think of caste violence targeting me,” he said.