India
oi-Gaurav Sharma
A group of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) supporters in West Bengal could have set tongues wagging with speculation about the party’s expansion beyond Tamil Nadu following the inauguration of an office in Purba Bardhaman. But the party leadership has made it clear that the new office does not have their official backing.
Fagupur was reportedly the venue for the opening of the office on September 27 by supporters who labelled it as the first TVK office in West Bengal. Chaitali Roy, who introduced herself as the party’s Bengal coordinator, claimed the group had got directions from Tamil Nadu to start the initiative.
Supporters inaugurated a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) office in Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal on September 27, but party leadership denies official backing, stating TVK’s focus remains on governance and public initiatives within Tamil Nadu.
“I have around 5,000 supporters at present in West Bengal,” she said. Initially, they will focus on social activities, education, employment and outreach to understand people’s problems.
However, the group has bigger political ambitions. Roy reportedly said the supporters wanted TVK to eventually contest elections in West Bengal though any decision will have to be taken based on the party leadership and people’s wishes.
That claim, however, does not tally with the position of the TVK leadership.
Party spokesperson and advocate Sankavi Dyannah Tuhinsamuel said TVK has not officially opened office or established an organise unit in West Bengal. She said the initiative was an independent one by local supporters inspired by TVK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.
“We do not have any plans to expand our organisational structure outside Tamil Nadu at the moment. The focus of TVK is on governance, implementation of the party’s manifesto and various public initiatives that we undertake within the state,” the spokesperson said.
The Bengal development is not an isolated incident. Vijay’s popularity has spurred similar initiatives in other states. There have been reports of supporters trying to get a TVK office in Kerala and a purported opening of an office in Palakkad.
TVK so far chose to acknowledge the enthusiasm but have not formally expanded their organisation beyond Tamil Nadu. The Bengal office may reflect some level of popularity for Vijay but officially, the party remains focussed on Tamil Nadu.
