On November 23, Chennai, the DMK‑allied Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) is gearing up to ask for a noticeably larger share of seats in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, with a particular emphasis on unreserved constituencies.
Having contested just six seats in the last poll, the party now aims for a double‑digit vote base, looking to grow beyond its core Dalit supporters.
Inside the organization, sources say VCK is set on demanding no fewer than 12 seats from the DMK during alliance negotiations.
Party leaders argue that expanding into more general seats is part of a longer‑term plan to spread its influence across different regions and to bring together the various democratic groups that have recently aligned with them.
In 2021, VCK contested the two general seats of Thiruporur and Nagapattinam and won both—a win leaders claim shows a widening appeal among non‑Dalit voters. They also noted that the party lost the Arakkonam and Vanur reserved contests to the AIADMK.
The spike in aspirants for general seats has reinforced the party’s belief that it can perform well outside reserved categories. VCK has earlier nominated a mix of Dalit and non‑Dalit candidates, such as during the 2016 elections when it fought 25 seats under a different alliance.
Despite speculation that the DMK might cut back the number of seats given to its allies, VCK remains confident that its share will grow rather than shrink.
D. Ravikumar, VCK’s general secretary and MP, warned that the partnership with the DMK is vital, adding that any weakening of the coalition would merely benefit the BJP.
In its preparations, VCK plans to target general constituencies like Bhuvanagiri, Shozhinganallur, Tiruvallur, and Mailam, alongside reserved seats such as Kallakurichi, Sholavandan, Sirkazhi, and Harur.
Assembly floor leader Sinthanai Selvan highlighted that a growing number of non‑Dalit youth have joined the party, motivated by its stance on ending caste discrimination. He said the party must give these young members a platform and keep pushing beyond identity politics to strengthen its voice in mainstream debates.
Another senior official noted that VCK’s persistent advocacy for OBC welfare has broadened its support, contributing to the high vote share the party achieved in the last election.
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