"BJP's octopus legs have captured India": VCK chief Thol Thirumavalan ahead of Tamil Nadu polls

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], April 20 (ANI): Vidhuthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) founder-president Thol Thirumavalan, in an open appeal to the party's cadres on Sunday raised alarm over the Bharatiya Janata Party "getting stronger in Tamil Nadu," and the party's "Octopus legs" capturing everything in India.
Releasing a video on Facebook today, the VCK chief urged the party's cadres of not falling into the trap of "opportunistic politics" by focusing on just having an alliance with other parties.
"We consider BJP shouldn't get stronger in Tamil Nadu but BJPs octopus leg have captured India. They are controlling everything. They are creating unnecessary debates in Tamil Nadu. Encouraging caste, communal powers. They spread rumours against VCK. They spread misinformation as if VCK only trusts DMK, they are creating this image," the VCK chief said in the video.
He further urged for his cadres to focus not only in political debates but raise the issues of the people, urging people to understand that while it is important to defeat BJP in elections, it is more important to save the Constitution.
"All of us have been working towards elections. The important issue is BJP have been taking steps slowly, intelligently and doing all acts against Ambedkar penned constitution. We can't sit and see this. Defeating them in electoral politics is important but more important is saving the Indian Constitution."
"Awareness regarding this is not yet created among general public. Political debates are like whether it is BJP or Congress, BJP or DMK. We should participate in such political debates but we shouldn't get struck. We have to think and act beyond that," he said.
He said that the party is ready to align with anyone who will give a good bargain to VCK and the community they represent, however one should also be confident in being with one alliance or other.
"VCK cadres should understand we can take any decision on electoral politics. We can open all doors and we can have bargain talks with many parties and having alliance with the party which gives huge bargain..but those are opportunistic politics. We don't want that. One should have confidence and braveness to continue in one alliance without any alliance," he said.
His comments come amidst political parties gearing up for 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, with BJP and AIADMK holding talks for a potential alliance in the state.
AIADMK has insisted that they will be deciding on whether to even have an alliance or be standalone will be decided after the elections itself.
Speaking to ANI, AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said the nature of the next government--whether standalone or coalition--would depend on the election outcome.
"Our leader, Edappadi K Palaniswami, made it clear that we have to address the alliance parties after the results of the elections. The nature of the results will determine whether the government is all by itself or a coalition government. Misrepresenting these two terminologies in their favour is the handwork of certain paid media on DMK's payroll," he said.
However, the BJP-AIADMK alliance was formally announced on April 11, with EPS leading the campaign. He called it a "pivotal moment" and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his guidance.
AIADMK has faced challenges in recent elections, both in the 2021 Assembly polls and the previous Lok Sabha election. The party allied with the BJP after the death of J Jayalalithaa in 2016. In 2021, the BJP won four seats in alliance with AIADMK, but the two parties broke ties in 2023 before reuniting for the 2026 Assembly polls. (ANI)