The TVK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu has officially adopted the name Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance (SSJVA) after a leadership meeting. The alliance, comprising parties such as VCK, MDMK, Congress, and IUML, aims to challenge the dominance of Dravidian parties by highlighting secularism and social justice. While a common minimum program is still under discussion due to differing opinions, the alliance partners have agreed on the new name.

The TVK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu has officially adopted the name Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance (SSJVA) after a leadership meeting. The alliance, comprising parties such as VCK, MDMK, Congress, and IUML, aims to challenge the dominance of Dravidian parties by highlighting secularism and social justice. While a common minimum program is still under discussion due to differing opinions, the alliance partners have agreed on the new name.

The TVK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu has officially adopted the name Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance (SSJVA) after a leadership meeting. The alliance, comprising parties such as VCK, MDMK, Congress, and IUML, aims to challenge the dominance of Dravidian parties by highlighting secularism and social justice. While a common minimum program is still under discussion due to differing opinions, the alliance partners have agreed on the new name.

The TVK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu, on Wednesday, got an official name — the Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance (SSJVA). The name was announced by alliance leaders after a two-hour meeting at the TVK headquarters in Panaiyur on the outskirts of Chennai.

An image featuring Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan, MDMK chief Vaiko, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Manickam Tagore and IUML chief K.M. Khadher Mohideen, standing against a red-and-yellow backdrop bearing the name of the alliance, was released to the media.

According to sources, the meeting, attended by senior ministers in Vijay’s cabinet, Congress leaders including Praveen Chakravarthy and Congress Legislative Party leader Tharahai Cuthbert, MDMK leader Durai Vaiko, and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leaders A.M. Shahjahan and Syed Farooq Basha, discussed several issues in detail, including framing a common minimum programme and choosing a name for the alliance. Sources said the leaders also discussed setting up a steering committee and appointing a convener for the bloc. It was later decided that Vijay would lead the alliance.

Sources say the meeting failed to reach a conclusion on the common minimum programme as the alliance partners had differing opinions on several issues. However, all the parties agreed to the new name proposed by Vijay. The new name includes the word “Victory”, or “Vettri” in Tamil, while Vijay translates to victory in Hindi. Incidentally, Vettri has been officially included in the name of every scheme announced by the new government, and it is also part of the TVK party’s name. It is believed that the word “Vettri” is astrologically associated with success for Vijay and his party.

This was the second meeting of the alliance partners. The first meeting was held at a star hotel near Mamallapuram in July, soon after the Congress and other parties switched to the TVK camp after leaving the DMK alliance. However, both Left parties — the CPI and CPI(M) — stayed away from both meetings. The Communists said they supported the TVK only for the formation of the government as it was short of numbers in the Assembly, and that they have not formalised an alliance with the TVK.

Sources say there were also discussions on convincing the Left parties to formally join the alliance. The words “social justice” and “secular” have been included in the alliance's name as it seeks to take on the two Dravidian parties, particularly the DMK, which has traditionally projected itself as a champion of social justice and secularism.

The second meeting and the naming of the bloc come at a time when two constituencies — Madurantakam and Dharapuram — are set to go to bypolls on October 6. The alliance partners will support and campaign for TVK candidates in the bypolls. The TVK will contest the bypolls as it seeks to secure a majority in the Assembly.

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