The Hindu Makkal Katchi has strongly opposed the opportunity given to DMK’s Tamilan Prasanna, who belongs to the Christian faith, to contest from the Egmore reserved constituency.
As per Supreme Court judgments, members of Scheduled Castes belonging to Hindu, Sikh, or Buddhist religions lose their Scheduled Caste benefits and rights if they convert to another religion. Various High Courts across states have also delivered similar rulings. The Supreme Court has recently reaffirmed this position.
In its judgment, the Supreme Court stated that a person who has converted to Christianity and actively follows that religion cannot continue to be treated as a member of the Scheduled Castes. It further observed that individuals following religions other than Hinduism, Sikhism, or Buddhism cannot claim the constitutional protections and benefits available to Scheduled Castes.
In this context, Tamilan Prasanna, who has been announced as the DMK candidate for the Egmore reserved constituency, is a Christian. The Hindu Makkal Katchi has questioned how he is eligible to contest from a reserved seat.
In a statement, the party’s leader Arjun Sampath said that Tamilan Prasanna, a DMK spokesperson contesting from Egmore, belongs to the Christian faith. He questioned how such a person could contest from a reserved constituency. He further stated that Prasanna is a devout Christian who regularly attends church. At a time when many Scheduled Caste members are unable to get opportunities, he questioned how the DMK could allot a reserved seat to a person who has converted to another religion.
#எழும்பூர் தனி தொகுதியில், திமுக பேச்சளார், தமிழன் பிரசன்னா கிருஸ்தவ மத த்தைசேர்ந்தவர். அவர் தனி தொகுதியில் எப்படி போட்டியிட முடியுமா ???
அவர் தீவிரமாக கிருஸ்தவ மதத்தை பின்பற்றுபவர், தினமும் சர்ச்க்கு போகிறவர்.
பட்டியல் மக்கள் எவளோ பேர், வாய்ப்பு கிடைக்காமல் இருக்கும்… pic.twitter.com/iuvFXiUrlC
— Arjun Sampath (@imkarjunsampath) March 29, 2026
Subscribe to our channels on WhatsApp, Telegram, Instagram and YouTube to get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
