Left-VCK tie-up could jell on the battleground

Madurai: They are natural allies on paper. They claim to represent the poorest and the most marginalized in society. But in the rough and tumble of alliance politics in the state, the Left and the dalit-based VCK haven't found themselves in the same alliance in the recent past.
The PWF promises to be an affirmation of CPM general secretary Sitaram Yechury's idea expressed in TN recently that Ambedkarites and the Left should make common cause.While in the past, the Left had been hostile to a caste-based outlook on society, since the 2000s, the CPM has taken up several struggles against untouchability. It has taken a distinctly pro-dalit approach, often leading to misgivings among backward classes who may otherwise be considered a constituency of the CPM.
In this election, the presence of one party is likely to strengthen the hands of the other.
VCK sources say that among dalit population the Left has always had support and this support may swell its ranks in the 25 seats it is contesting and vice-versa.
The VCK was in the DMK alliance in the year 2012, when three villages of Dharmapuri, Natham, Kottampatti and Anna Nagar, were torched on Nov 7 that year. Neither of the parties thought twice before acting together and fighting against the atrocities on the people there. Even in cases of honour killings they come together to state their point.
This time, the two forces have come under the umbrella of the DMDK/PWF, TMC alliance. And they see this as improving their chances of victory. With the CPM, CPI and VCK having 75 seats among them, they say that 2016 has given them a good chance to winning seats and also given them an opportunity to work together.
According to P Kathiravan, the Madurai Urban district secretary of the VCK, this is not purely a poll-based alliance.
"We came together six months to go, for bringing a better future to this state. All our cadres are working towards it and will continue to do so, even beyond the elections," he said.
"Ours is a natural association. We have never maintained our differences when it came to fighting for the cause of dalits, be it untouchability or atrocities. So calling our alliance a poll-based tie-up is wrong,'' says CPM state committee member K Samuel Raj.
A CPM cadre says their affiliation towards the VCK is more when compared to their other allies. "We always work for the betterment of the dalits. It is inbuilt in our system so we will deliver our votes in the constituencies they are contesting,'' he said.