Tamil Nadu: Vaiko says he is firm on his decision to not contest polls

Coimbatore, Apr 26: A day after announcing that he would not contest the May 16 Tamil Nadu polls, MDMK chief Vaiko today said he will stand firm on his decision.

Vaiko, a key architect of the DMDK-PWF-TMC combine, had yesterday alleged that the DMK was planning to create "caste violence" in Kovilpatti constituency, from where he had earlier planned to contest.

"I am firm on my decision to not to contest," he told reporters here.

"DMK has hatched a plot to create tension in Kovilpatti between Thevar and Naicker communities by using my name and make me an accused, preventing me from contesting polls," Vaiko alleged.

Claiming that he was always "above caste politics", Vaiko said he backed out from contesting the poll so that it could "help to avoid triggering caste clashes".

"Despite the requests from the People's Welfare Front leaders to reconsider the decision, I am firm on it. It is not a drama," he said.

"If I preferred to contest from any other constituency, that will look like a drama," Vaiko said.

PTI