Vanniyar Youth Conference at Mamallapuram: PMK founder Ramadoss warns of extensive protests seeking reservation for the community

The Hindu

12-05-2025

PMK founder S. Ramadoss on Sunday (May 11, 2025) said 'extensive and historic protests' will be announced soon against the Tamil Nadu government, which, according to him, does not seem to be in a mood to provide 10.5% internal reservations for Vanniyars in government jobs and higher education. He said the community was ready to make 'any sacrifice necessary' to achieve its goal of obtaining internal reservations.
Addressing a massive Vanniyar youth conference – held by the Vanniyar Sangam after 12 years - at Mamallapuram, Dr. Ramadoss said he had directly urged Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to provide 10.5% internal reservations for Vanniyars.
'If 2,000 [Vanniyar] youth manage to canvass 50 votes each in a constituency, we can win in at least 50 Assembly seats. But, I know many are not working hard. If you ensure the vote of your family members, we can acquire power,' he told the gathering.
Dr. Ramadoss said the community should be ashamed to win just 5 MLAs despite being in an alliance, whereas the party had won in four seats contesting on the Elephant symbol, on its own in 1996.
'People keep asking about alliance. I will decide on the alliance, but if you want a seat, start your work. Your work is being monitored. You cannot get your seat by cajoling me. Many are ready to work in your place. If you want to do real estate business, please do it. But, you won't have your position in the party,' he said.
PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Sunday alleged that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has betrayed the Vanniyar community by refusing to provide internal reservations for Vanniyars within the MBC quota [a legislation providing internal reservation for the community was quashed by the Supreme Court].
Addressing a massive Vanniyar Youth rally organised by the Vanniyar Sangam in Mamallapuram, he said Mr. Stalin had assured he will implement the reservations 'but changed his mind'.
The PMK leader said, '1136 days have passed since the verdict striking down the reservations for Vanniyars was passed. We met the CM so many times. He welcomed us and assured he will implement the reservations. Once when I said the next academic year would be affected, the CM said he will convene a special Assembly session. Suddenly, he changed his opinion. For two years, he assured us.'
According to him, the Chief Minister had pointed out Vanniyar reservations cannot be given without conducting caste census which can be done only by the Central government. 'This is a lie he repeated in State Assembly and in public. This is a big betrayal. Does the Tamil Nadu government have no powers to take caste survey? Then, how did your father and M.G.R. do it? How was the Sattanathan Commission formed by your father? And how did Ambasankar Commission do door-to-door enumeration?' he asked Mr Stalin.
He shared his view that two Vanniakula Kshatriyas were instrumental in the implementation of reservations for Other Backward Classes in India. One was V. Anaimuthu who had a role in establishing the Mandal Commission and the other, was his father and PMK founder S. Ramadoss for implementation of reservations of OBCs.
Dr. Anbumani claimed many important historical figures have not been recognised because they were born into the Vanniyar community. They are being used by the political establishment just as a 'vote bank'.
'First martyr in Sathyagraha movement in South Africa was Nagappan Padaiyachi from Mayiladuthurai. Why doesn't nobody know this? Because he is a Padaiyachi. Next is Anjalai Ammal....Gandhi came in person to see her. Shouldn't she be recognised as freedom fighter? V. Anaimuthu was the true heir to Periyar, unlike others who claim to be his heir. He went to North India to create awareness and organised protests and was instrumental in establishing Mandal Commission. Otherwise, there would be no OBC reservations in India,' he said.
He added, 'Dr. Ramadoss asked Sonia Gandhi firmly if the UPA government would be willing to implement 27% OBC reservations in educational institutions. This is such a big history. This wouldn't be hailed because he was born into this community. He has managed to bring in 6 reservations for various communities.'
The Vanniyar community, he said, is the largest community in terms of population, but continues to live in poverty - people of the community do daily wage work, educationally backward and have no jobs.
'But, political parties in power view the community as a 'vote bank'. During the elections, they will use you. After the elections, they will just leave you. Even other communities use the Vanniyar community – if they encounter an issue, they will seek your help. But soon afterwards, they cut us loose,' he said. The conference was to demand the rights of the community, 'not just a show of strength'.
Scores of Vanniyar youth thronged to Mamallapuram in busses, cars, bikes and on foot on Sunday to participate in the Chithirai full moon Vanniyar Youth Conference. The PMK leadership didn't miss the opportunity to put the rift within the party aside as Dr. Ramadoss was flanked by Dr. Anbumani on one side and Parasuraman Mukundan, whose appointment in the youth wing was flagged by Dr. Anbumani recently leading to widening rift, on the other while walking on to the stage.
Dr. Anbumani's family members were also present at the venue overseeing the preparations.
Thousands of vehicles clogged the East Coast Road as thousands of Vanniyar youth from across several districts from Tamil Nadu moved towards the venue, waving the Vanniyar Sangam and PMK flags.
With the PMK yet to formally join an alliance, the public rally gains significance as it was considered as an opportunity for the party to exhibit a show of strength a year before the 2026 State Assembly elections scheduled next year.
The event began with musical performance by renowned singer, Pushpavanam Kuppusaamy, and his wife, Anitha Kuppusaamy. Dr. Ramadoss also helped raise the Vanniyar Sangam's flag on a flag pole remotely while the PMK cadre witnessed a drone show, documentaries about Dr. Ramadoss' achievements in his political life and about important Vanniyar personalities in history.
Besides, 14 resolutions were read out on stage including a demand to conduct a caste survey in Tamil Nadu to protect 69% reservations in place in Tamil Nadu, appreciation for Dr. Ramadoss for fighting for caste census over such a long period of time and ensuring its implementation and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for announcing it.
The resolutions further demanded that Tamil Nadu government should ensure that each community should be given representation based on their population and that reservations for Scheduled Castes should be increased further by 2%.
Other resolutions demanded that the upper limit of 50% reservations should be removed by the Central government and also called for removal of creamy layer in OBC reservations implemented by Central government.
The party further demanded that separate corporations with funding be created in the name of every community within Backward classes and Most Backward Classes communities just like the Andhra Pradesh government.
The party resolution also backed the Central government's military action against Pakistan and any future action citing the Pahalgam terror attack.