Caste-based vote banks to decide fate of major parties in April 18 battle

With Vanniyars forming a significant percentage of the population in northern Tamil Nadu, Gounders dominate most of the Western pockets, and Mukkulathors, who comprise about 15 per cent of the state’s total population, densely present in the Central and Southern districts, parties are wooing voters with their caste identities.

While the ruling AIADMK relies on the overwhelming support of Mukkulathors (Thevars) comprising Kallar, Maravar and Agamudayar, the DMK has been banking on minorities and OBCs. PMK and VCK are dependent on Vanniyar and Dalit vote bank respectively.

“This poll is being closely watched as there is some hesitation among the caste followers in accepting the current AIADMK leaders,” opines political commentator Raveendran Duraisamy.

He added that since the days of party founder MGR and his protégé Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK was a favourite for public cutting across caste lines, but there seems to be hesitation among the Mukkulathors in choosing the leadership of CM Edappadi K Palaniswami, after the rise of TTV Dhinakaran.

“But the Gounders in western pockets are backing the government as several ministers are from the community. Dalits and Yadavs who backed the AIADMK in the past are now little upset after the denial of a seat to former AIADMK leader Raja Kannappan, who had shifted his loyalty to the DMK,” Duraisamy said.

The Dravidian major is also likely to lose its decades-old influence with the minorities due to the alliance with the BJP, said Poonga Nagar Selvam, a functionary with AIADMK MGR Mandram.

However, Gounders are still supporting the AIADMK as their representative Edappadi K Palaniswami has risen as CM and party joint coordinator.

There is some rift among voters in the Aghamudayar community too. According to Tamil Nadu Agamudayar Maha Sabha President Karu Pon Rajinikanth, who has recently launched his own political outfit Anaithu Tamil Agam Katchi (ATAK), they were cheated by the AIADMK under the Mukkulathor tag. “We are just Agamudayars. We are in no way connected to Kallars and Maravars. In fact, the term Mukkulathor did not exist before 1938. It was only Kallars and Maravars, who have benefited from the Mukkulathor political card and Agamudayars are neither the same caste nor similar sub-groups,” Rajnikanth said. He added that though the AIADMK is said to be party backing Mukkulathors, it barely gave representation to Agamudayars. “While nine ministers in the cabinet are from so-called Mukkulathor communities, OS Manian is the only Agamudayar. So, we never want to continue our support to the AIADMK,” he rued.

Rajinikanth is contesting as an independent in Ramanathapuram Lok Sabha Constituency canvasing with a slogan ‘Agamudayar vote Agamudayarke’ (Agamudayars vote is only for Agamudayars).

“AIADMK had been enjoying the overwhelming support of general public comprising all castemembers and these caste equations will not matter,” said an AIADMK MLA from Coimbatore wishing not to be quoted.