Madurai’s Amma Thidal is set to host yet another major political gathering as the Tamil Nadu Muslim Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) whose political wing Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) is a DMK alliance party, prepares for its state-level conference following the recently concluded Hindu Munnani’s Murugan Devotees Conference. The back-to-back events have turned the spotlight on the city, sparking debates on political symbolism and communal representation.
While the Hindu Munnani faced multiple restrictions from the police before staging its event, it secured legal relief and eventually held the conference successfully. Now, attention has shifted to the MMK’s state conference, scheduled to take place at the same venue on 6 July 2025.
The decision to hold the MMK event at Amma Thidal has drawn mixed reactions. Some political observers view it as a counter to the Hindu Munnani’s show of strength, while others suggest that the conference is aimed at consolidating Muslim support and pressing for greater representation in the DMK-led alliance ahead of the 2026 state elections.
Speaking about the event, MMK state president M.H. Jawahirullah clarified that the decision to hold the conference was made as early as 31 May 2025. He stated that the conference was postponed first due to the DMK’s General Committee meeting and later due to the Muruga Devotees Conference.
Jawahirullah emphasized that the purpose of the event is not to compete with other gatherings, but to demand proportional representation for Muslims in legislative bodies. He highlighted that despite making up around 7% of Tamil Nadu’s population, Muslims have only 7 MLAs in the state assembly, half of what MMK believes is proportionate.
Nationally, he noted that only 24 out of 543 Lok Sabha MPs are Muslims, while there are just 13 Muslim members in the Rajya Sabha, against an expected 35. Of the 4,123 MLAs across India, only 296 are Muslim, reflecting a broad under-representation according to the party.
The MMK also raised concerns about the implications of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and voter verification processes, particularly in states like Bihar, warning that marginalized communities, including minorities, tribals, and Dalits, could be disenfranchised due to bureaucratic hurdles.
Jawahirullah confirmed that the party would indeed press for a fair share of assembly seats in the coming elections. The conference is expected to draw nearly two lakh participants, underlining MMK’s efforts to assert its presence ahead of the electoral season.
(With inputs from Hindu Tamil)
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