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Pattali Makkal Katchi

Pattali Makkal Katchi (transl. Proletariat's Party; abbreviated as PMK) is a Vanniyar caste party in Tamil Nadu, India, founded by S. Ramadoss in 1989 for the Vanniyar caste in northern Tamil Nadu.[2][3] It is a part of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).[4] It contests the elections with the "Ripe Mango" symbol.[5]

Pattali Makkal Katchi
LeaderS. Ramadoss
PresidentAnbumani Ramadoss
ChairmanG. K. Mani
FounderS. Ramadoss
Founded16 July 1989 (35 years ago) (1989-07-16)
HeadquartersTindivanam, Villupuram District, Chennai - 604001, Tamil Nadu
Ideology Casteism
Right-wing populism
Political positionRight-wing
ECI StatusUnrecognised Party[1]
AllianceNDA (1998-2004, 2014-2016, 2019-present)
AIADMK-Congress (SDPA) (2001)
DMK-Indian National Congress (UPA) (2004-2009, 2011-2014)
AIADMK (UNPA) (2009-2011)
Seats in Lok Sabha
0 / 543
Seats in Rajya Sabha
1 / 245
Seats in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
5 / 234
Election symbol

(Ripe Mango)
Website
pmkofficial.com

The PMK is noted for its involvement in riots and vandalism. A former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha, likened the party to a terrorist organisation and threatened to ban it for its frequent involvement in violence and vandalism of public property.[6]

History

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Vanniyar Sangam

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S. Ramadoss founded the Vanniyar Sangam in 1980, bringing together a coalition of Vanniyar caste organisations. The Vanniyar Sangam is PMK's parent organisation.[7][8] The Vanniyar Sangham organised the 1987 Vanniyar reservation agitation demanding Most Backward Caste (MBC) status for Vanniyars. At the peak of the protests, the state was paralysed for a week when thousands of trees were felled, highways blocked and damaged and more than 1,400 houses of the Dalit community were burned down.[9] The police shot 21 protestors.[7] Later, in 1989, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government led by M. Karunanidhi granted MBC status to the Vanniyars, with the associated reservation entitlements in education and employment.[10]

PMK (1989–present)

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Ramadoss founded the PMK on 16 July 1989,[11] emerging from the Vanniyar reservation protests of 1987.[12]

Ahead of the 2004 elections, PMK joined the Democratic Progressive Alliance, a broad Tamil political coalition which also included the DMK, Indian National Congress (INC), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Indian Union Muslim League. The party was able to obtain a significant share of power both in the regional government in Tamil Nadu and the Central Government due to the number of seats it obtained which helped the United Progressive Alliance (UPA-I) to form the Government.[citation needed]

Following the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the PMK joined the United Progressive Alliance led by the INC. In June 2008, during the final months of the bitter relationship between the DMK and the PMK, the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu severed its ties with the PMK, who were outside supporters of the Karunanidhi Government.[13] However, the DMK did not press for the party's removal from the UPA Government at the centre. On 26 March 2009, PMK declared that, it would join the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) led front and left the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).

Ramadoss and his son, Anbumani Ramdoss, were arrested by the Jayalalitha government for their inflammatory speeches, the PMK cadres indulged in violence in April 2013 causing property damages estimated worth ₹600 crores.[14] Jayalalitha likened the party to a “terrorist” organization and claimed they hurled petrol bombs on moving vehicles and caused damages to 850 vehicles including public buses and threatened to ban the party.[15] Ramadoss and his son were released after 12 days in prison.[16]

PMK contested in the 2014 Lok Sabha election in an alliance with BJP-led NDA and its candidate Anbumani Ramadoss won the Dharmapuri Lok Sabha constituency, he was one of two non-AIADMK MPs from Tamil Nadu the other being from its ally BJP.[17]

PMK continued its alliance with AIADMK and BJP in the 2019 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu and contested 7 seats but the party failed to win any seats.[18]

The Madras Institute of Developmental Studies (MIDS) and an reported that the PMK and the Hindu Munnani was involved in the 2019 Ponparappi violence where Dalit women were sexually abused and Dalit houses were attacked and damaged.[19] An NGO Evidence also blamed PMK in the violence because the Dalit colony voted overwhelmingly for VCK.[20]

In November 2020, Ramadoss called for a protest demanding 20% internal reservation for Vanniyars in the MBC category in education and jobs from 1 December. During the pro-reservation protests, more than 500 PMK cadres pelted stones on a moving train and blocked traffic when they were blocked from entering Chennai.[21][22] A bill to create the 10.5% internal reservation to Vanniyars was passed on February 26, 2021, by the AIADMK government.[23] The move was taken ahead of the April 6 assembly elections to appease the PMK, which had threatened to quit the coalition if their demand was not satisfied.[24] In July 2021, the DMK government issued an order to implement 10.5% quota Bill for Vanniyars.[24]

PMK contested in 23 seats in the AIADMK alliance in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election and won five seats by securing 4.04%.[18] In the assembly, PMK voted in favour of anti-CAA and anti-farm-law resolutions, but AIADMK and BJP walked out over the matter.[25] PMK left the AIADMK-led alliance for the 2021 local body polls.[26]

Ideology and political positions

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The PMK defied Tamil Nadu's Dravidian political culture by explicitly appealing to its caste identification when asking for support. The party has been linked to direct action and protests that have resulted in violence. Between 2012 and 2013, the party ran a campaign against intercaste marriages.[12]

Leaders

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The leaders of Pattali Makkal Katchi, who are also the national executives of the party, are listed below:[27]

National Executive
S.No Member Party Position
1. S. Ramadoss Founder-Leader of PMK
2. G.K. Mani Honorary President of PMK[28]
3. Anbumani Ramadoss President of PMK
4. Vadivel Ravanan General Secretary of PMK
5. Thilagabama Treasurer of PMK
6. Pu.Tha.Arulmozhi President of Vanniyar Sangam
7. Advocate K. Balu Spokesperson of PMK

List of Union Ministers

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No. Portrait Minister
(Birth-Death)
Constituency 		Term of office Portfolio Ministry Prime Minister
From To Period
1   Dalit Ezhilmalai
(1945–2020)
MP for Chidambaram
[MoS(I/C)] 		20 March
1998 		14 August
1999 		1 year, 147 days Minister of Health and Family Welfare Vajpayee II Atal Bihari Vajpayee
2   N. T. Shanmugam
MP for Vellore
[MoS(I/C)] 		13 October
1999 		27 May
2000 		227 days Vajpayee III
27 May
2000 		7 February
2001 		256 days Ministry of Coal
1 July
2002 		15 January
2004 		1 year, 198 days Ministry of Food Processing Industries
3   A. K. Moorthy
(born 1964)
MP for Chengalpattu 		1 July
2002 		15 January
2004 		1 year, 198 days MoS in Ministry of Railways
4   E. Ponnuswamy
(born 1936)
MP for Chidambaram 		13 October
1999 		7 February
2001 		1 year, 117 days MoS in Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
5   Anbumani Ramadoss
(born 1968)
Rajya Sabha MP for Tamil Nadu 		23 May
2004 		29 March
2009 		4 years, 310 days Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Manmohan I Manmohan Singh
6   R. Velu
(born 1940)
MP for Arakkonam 		MoS in Ministry of Railways

Election history

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Tamil Nadu

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Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
Election Year Election Votes polled Won Change of Seats Alliance Result
1991 10th Assembly 1,452,982
1 / 194
  1 None Lost
1996 11th Assembly 1,042,333
4 / 116
   3 PMK+ Lost
2001 12th Assembly 1,557,500
20 / 27
   16 AIADMK+ Won
2006 13th Assembly 1,863,749
18 / 31
   2 DMK + Won
2011 14th Assembly 1,927,783
3 / 30
   15 DMK + Lost
2016 15th Assembly 2,300,775
0 / 234
   3 None Lost
2021 16th Assembly 1,756,796
5 / 23
   5 AIADMK+ Lost
Lok Sabha election
Election Year Election Votes polled Won Change of Seats Alliance Result
1996 11th Lok Sabha 552,118
0 / 15
 No Change PMK+ Lost
1998 12th Lok Sabha 15,48,976
4 / 5
  4 NDA Government
1999 13th Lok Sabha 2,236,821
5 / 7
  1 NDA Government
2004 14th Lok Sabha 1,927,367
5 / 5
 No Change DPA Government
2009 15th Lok Sabha 1,944,619
0 / 6
  5 TF Lost
2014 16th Lok Sabha 1,804,812
1 / 8
  1 NDA Government
2019 17th Lok Sabha 2,297,431[29]
0 / 7
  1 NDA Government
2024 18th Lok Sabha 18,79,689
0 / 10
 No Change NDA Government

DPA - Democratic Progressive Alliance NDA - National Democratic Alliance TF - Third Front PT - PMK-Tiwari Congress Front

Puducherry

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Puducherry Legislative Assembly election
Election Year Election Votes polled Won Change of Seats Alliance Result
2006 2006 Pondicherry Legislative Assembly election N.A.
2 / 30
  2 DPA Government
Further information: Puducherry Lok Sabha constituency
Lok Sabha election
Election Year Election Votes polled Won Change of Seats Alliance Result Candidate
1999 13th Lok Sabha 140,920
0 / 1
 No Change NDA Lost M. Ramadass
2004 14th Lok Sabha 241,653
1 / 1
  1 DPA Government M. Ramadass
2009 15th Lok Sabha 208,619
0 / 1
  1 TF Lost M. Ramadass

DPA - Democratic Progressive Alliance NDA - National Democratic Alliance TF - Third Front PT - PMK-Tiwari Congress Front

List of Lok Sabha Members

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Year Election Member Constituency Remarks
1998 12th Lok Sabha Dalit Ezhilmalai Chidambaram (SC)
K. Parymohan Dharmapuri
M. Durai Vandavasi
N.T. Shanmugam Vellore
1999 13th Lok Sabha A.K. Moorthy Chengalpattu
Mathivanan Chidambaram (SC)
P D Elangovan Dharmapuri
M. Durai Vandavasi Re-elected for 2nd term
N.T. Shanmugam Vellore Re-elected for 2nd term
2004 14th Lok Sabha Rangasamy Velu Arakkonam
A.K. Moorthy Chengalpattu Re-elected for 2nd term
E Ponnuswamy Chidambaram (SC) Re-elected for 2nd term
Senthil Raman Dharmapuri
K Dhanaraju Tindivanam
M. Ramadass Puducherry
2014 16th Lok Sabha Anbumani Ramadoss Dharmapuri

List of Rajya Sabha Members

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Position Term in office Constituency
(House)
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1   Anbumani Ramadoss
(1968–) 		Member of Rajya Sabha 2004 2010 6 years Tamil Nadu
(Rajya Sabha)
2019 Incumbent 5 years, 327 days

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Withdrawal of recognition of status of state party in Puducherry of the Pattali Makkal Katchi". Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  2. ^ Radhakrishnan, P. (2002). "Vanniyar Separatism: Nebulous Issues". Economic and Political Weekly. 37 (32): 3315–3316. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4412456.
  3. ^ Thirunavukkarasu, R. (2001). "Election 2001: Changing Equations". Economic and Political Weekly. 36 (27): 2486–2489. ISSN 0012-9976. JSTOR 4410818.
  4. ^ Senthalir, S. (2 March 2019). "In Tamil Nadu, discontent within PMK does not augur well for prospects of BJP-AIADMK alliance". Scroll.in. Retrieved 22 November 2020.
  5. ^ "PMK allotted 'mango' symbol for 2016 polls". The Hindu. 25 March 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  6. ^ "Jayalalithaa threatens to ban Ramadoss' PMK over Marakkanam violence". 14 May 2013.
  7. ^ a b "40-yr-old reservation demand conceded in TN: Is it working for PMK?". Hindustan Times. 5 April 2021. Retrieved 26 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Senior Ramadoss arrested". The Telegraph. 1 May 2013. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  9. ^ Collins, Michael A (1 January 2017). "Recalling Democracy: Electoral Politics, Minority Representation, and Dalit Assertion in Modern India". Dissertations Available from ProQuest: 137, 138.
  10. ^ Kolappan, B. (7 May 2012). "Vanniyar Sangam revives demand for exclusive quota". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Will PMK's investment in caste-politics yield results?". The New Indian Express. 28 February 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  12. ^ a b Manikandan, C.; Wyatt, Andrew (2 January 2019). "Political parties and federally structured incentives in Indian politics: the case of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK)". Contemporary South Asia. 27 (1): 3. doi:10.1080/09584935.2019.1572070. ISSN 0958-4935. S2CID 151268924.
  13. ^ "DMK snaps ties with PMK". The Hindu. 18 June 2008. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  14. ^ "Jaya threatens to ban PMK for inciting violence". Hindustan Times. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Jayalalithaa threatens to ban Ramadoss' PMK over Marakkanam violence". The Indian Express. 13 May 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  16. ^ "PMK founder S Ramadoss released from prison, slams Jayalalithaa govt". The Indian Express. 11 May 2013. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  17. ^ "DMDK to sign poll deal with BJP - Times of India". The Times of India. 26 February 2014. Retrieved 7 April 2016.
  18. ^ a b "Low vote share spoils PMK's celebratory mood over win in 5 seats". dtNext.in. 7 May 2021. Archived from the original on 7 May 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Fact-finding team blames PMK for Ponparappi violence". dtNext.in. 10 May 2019. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  20. ^ Rajasekaran, Ilangovan (20 April 2019). "Dalits in Tamil Nadu village attacked for voting in election". Frontline. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  21. ^ "Pro-reservation protest: PMK supporters create ruckus in Chennai after being stopped by police". The Indian Express. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  22. ^ "Video: PMK members pelt stones on train during protest for sub-quota for Vanniyars". The News Minute. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  23. ^ Yamunan, Sruthisagar (17 March 2021). "Ground report: Will giving Vanniyar community 10.5% reservations help AIADMK win north Tamil Nadu?". Scroll.in. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  24. ^ a b "TN issues order to implement 10.5% quota Bill for Vanniyars". Hindustan Times. 27 July 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  25. ^ "Cracks in AIADMK alliance; PMK to contest alone in rural local body polls". Deccan Herald. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  26. ^ "PMK exits AIADMK-led alliance for local body polls, to contest alone". The News Minute. 15 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  27. ^ "Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) – Party History, Symbol, Founders, Election Results and News". www.elections.in. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
  28. ^ "Election observer must manage Arasu Cable till polls: PMK". The Hindu. 20 March 2016. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 30 March 2016.
  29. ^ "General Election 2019 - Election Commission of India". Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
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