Why Is BJP Keen To Ally With PMK In Tamil Nadu? Answer Lies In Caste Arithmetic
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BJP sources told News18 that the party is keen on a patch-up between Ramadoss and his son Anbumani and wants to seal the deal by June-end
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which sealed its deal with AIADMK in Tamil Nadu in April this year—with Union Home Minister Amit Shah declaring that a 'coalition government" would be formed after the elections— now has its eyes on a smaller ally, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK).
In fact, RSS ideologue S Gurumurthy's crucial visits to the residence of senior Ramadoss are being seen as efforts to bring the two warring factions of the PMK—founder S Ramadoss's camp and that of his son Anbumani Ramadoss—to a common ground so that the NDA deal can be sealed.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha election, PMK fought across 10 constituencies but failed to win any seats. PMK came second in one seat (Dharmapuri), third in eight seats, and fourth in one seat. So, why then is the BJP so keen to ally with such a small player?
Despite losses, the PMK secured a vote share of approximately 4.33 per cent across the 10 constituencies in 2024. The party also holds notable political significance in Tamil Nadu, primarily as a regional party representing the Vanniyar community, which forms a significant portion of the state's population, especially in northern and western districts.
Founded in 1989 by Dr S Ramadoss, PMK is a key advocate for the Vanniyar community, a Most Backward Class (MBC) group. The party's strong hold in districts like Dharmapuri, Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Salem makes it a critical player in mobilising Vanniyar votes, which can be decisive in close contests. In a state where the BJP is seen as 'party of Savarna" or upper caste, an ally like PMK will take away a lot of DMK's caste-based rhetoric during campaigning in Tamil Nadu, BJP sources reveal.
Moreover, at a time when Tamil Nadu is witnessing rejuvenation of caste-based advocacy, having outfits like PMK—which successfully pushed for 10.5 per cent exclusive reservation for Vanniyars within the MBC quota in 2021 (though this was later struck down by the Supreme Court)—will help the BJP gets mainstreamed in Tamil Nadu politics, its state units believe.
'PMK has its own uses and its own limitations, like its influence is limited to northern Tamil Nadu alone. But we are approaching this election with a different mindset where we would like to think PMK's interests and NDA's interests would align better with each other," said a BJP source.
But before the PMK aligns with NDA, the former must decide who will head it. Dr Ramadoss recently accused his son Anbumani of forcing him to join the NDA during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in which PMK couldn't win a single seat. Though back-channel talks are on where Gurumurthy and Chennai mayor Saidai Duraiswamy visited the senior Ramadoss who wants his son to relinquish the power of being the head of the party, Gurumurthy claimed he met the senior Ramadoss as his 'friend". Interestingly though, just before his meeting with senior Ramadoss, Anbumani went and met his father.
BJP sources told News18 they would have liked the patch-up between the father-son duo to happen on a day when Shah was in the state. The home minister addressed the state core committee and even wooed Tamil sentiments by saying: 'I apologise to my BJP workers of Tamil Nadu as I cannot talk to them in one of the greatest languages of India—Tamil."
Before Shah left the state, away from Madurai where BJP's meeting was in full swing, senior Ramadoss told reporters they can expect 'good news" about the patch-up between him and his son. BJP sources suggest 'an arrangement has been mutually agreed" where the father will become the party president and the son will become the working president.
'The sooner they shake hands, the better as BJP would like to seal the alliance before June ends," said a BJP source.
In the 2021 Tamil Nadu legislative assembly election, the alliance led by the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and including the BJP and PMK, won 75 seats out of the 234 total constituencies. The AIADMK secured 66 seats, the BJP won four seats, and the PMK won five seats.
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