CHENNAI: VCK’s ideological commitment to social justice supersedes power and ministerial posts, social justice minister Vanni Arasu said in the Tamil Nadu assembly on Friday.“Our ultimate goal is social justice and equality, which is the sole foundation on which we joined the cabinet. I came from the ashes of torched huts burned in communal clashes. VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan placed me in this ministerial seat, but if he calls me back to the battleground tomorrow, I will leave this office immediately and return to the field to continue our work. We did not enter politics for positions or prizes,” Vanni Arasu told the state assembly during his reply to the demand for grants for his department.Vanni Arasu is the lone VCK minister in the TVK cabinet.Thanking leader of the opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin and other DMK leaders for their hard work and campaign support during his election, the minister said, “The LoP stated that my victory was more important than his own. He made this statement while campaigning for me.”“I mentioned and thanked every DMK member responsible for my victory. However, none of the DMK leaders speaking on the other side bothers to express gratitude to our leader, Thirumavalavan,” Vanni Arasu remarked, emphasizing that his party remained worthy of that recognition.Responding to the minister’s comments, Udhayanidhi reiterated the deep-rooted ideological alignment between the two movements, dismissing any notion of political disrespect and affirming the DMK’s enduring regard for the VCK founder. “Ours was never a mere electoral alliance with Thirumavalavan; it is an ideological alliance. I have publicly declared multiple times that I accept Thirumavalavan as my political mentor. We hold immense gratitude for him,” he said.
