Chennai: Tamil Nadu Bishops Council and the Christhuva Vazhvurimai Iyakkam on Monday extended their support to DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance ahead of the April 23 Assembly polls.The directive comes in the wake of speculations that there was a drift of a section of Christian voters towards Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s Vijay.
In a joint statement, the forums noted that three opposing fronts share the common goal of defeating the DMK-led alliance. While acknowledging “shortcomings” in some of the DMK’s activities, the statement said the DMK remains firm in its core secular ideology. They said that defeating communalism requires more than just ideology – it demands political firmness and a robust organizational structure, which they believe only the DMK-led SPA can provide.The forums stressed that the upcoming election should not be viewed as an isolated event but as a critical juncture in the state’s socio-political trajectory. “We must adopt the Dravidian ideology to counter majoritarian and communal forces,” the statement read.Appealing to the Christian community, the leaders urged voters to look beyond a candidate’s religion and instead consider the ideology and commitment of the political front. They specifically dissuaded community members from voting for individuals or minor parties that could split the vote share and inadvertently aid the growth of communal forces. In a related development, several candidates of the DMK front, including sitting minister PK Sekarbabu, called on Archbishop Rev Dr George Anthonysamy in Chennai to seek his blessings and consolidate support before the final phase of campaigning.tnn
