News Tamil Nadu

“Stalin Appointed Me As He Knew A Vanniyar MLA From Here Would Get Votes”: DMK MLA Says, Critics Call Out Dravidian Model Duplicity

July 5, 2024
The Commune

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) which boasts its commitment to the ideals of Periyar emphasizing the party’s dedication to social justice and equality. The party faces scrutiny over controversial statements made by one of its MLAs during the assembly election campaign.

In a recently surfaced video, the Tiruthani MLA was caught making caste-based appeals to a group of women voters, asserting the importance of the Vanniyar community in his constituency.

The video shows the MLA stating, “I’m Tiruthani MLA, DMK MLA. I was a District Secretary. I’m not someone from outside, I’m also a Vanniyar. I am one of you. Congress’s Krishnaswamy is my close relative. In Tiruthani, we run K. Vinayagam Matric School and a women’s college. My father’s name is Shanmugam Reddiar, and he used to conduct Vanniyar Sangam meetings in Tiruthani. People in and around Tiruthani used to come and followed his command. Thalapahty K. Vinayagam is none but Congress Krishnaswamy’s father-in-law. He was Tiruthani MLA. My father started a school and college in his name. Over 2000 students study in campus spread over 30 acres. My father has written a will stating that this school and college belongs to every Vanniyar living in this the world. He started it to provide education for our caste people. Today we’re running it in Thiruthani town. I haven’t mentioned this history anywhere. I didn’t tell this in the meeting yesterday I spoke”

The MLA went on to claim, “There are many within the DMK party working for our Vanniyar community. From that background, I’ve been with the DMK. I’ve been a Municipal Chairman for 15 years. I’ve been continuously winning. I was the Chairman when Jayalalithaa Amma was there and during DMK period. I kept winning continuously. They offered me an MLA seat and I won because I’m a man of my word and honest. I’ve a good name among people. Not one vote will go against my word.”

He further said “MK Stalin appointed me because he was clear that a Vanniyar MLA had to be from this area. He knew that I have this background and I would be able to talk to people and get the votes. You may think with what authority I came here to fetch votes. Kalaignar was the first to propose 20% reservation for our community. Many didn’t know this. Only because of this reservation do our community’s students become doctors, sub-inspectors, and collectors. Before that, there was no reservation. Our community was struggling. Edappadi Palaniswamy failed to secure 10.5% reservation for us, and now the courts have canceled it. If the central government supports us, our DMK government will be able to reinstate this. We have provided so many welfare schemes to women.”

DMK critics on social media called out the duplicity of the Dravidian Model of social justice.

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