Chennai, June 10 -- Former Tamil Nadu Minister Ponnusamy, veteran Dalit politician and former Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Viduthalai Tamil Puligal Katchi (VTPK) party leader Kumbakonam Arasan on Tuesday expressed confidence in the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government and praised Chief Minister Vijay's leadership, while criticising the DMK and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol Thirumavalavan.

Addressing a joint press conference at the Chennai Press Club, Ponnusamy said the rise of TVK had brought an end to what he described as the political oppression and authoritarian practices of both the DMK and AIADMK.

He claimed that a substantial section of Dalit voters who had traditionally supp...