Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam | |
 |
|
| Party chairperson | M. Karunanidhi |
|---|---|
| General Secretary | K. Anbazhagan |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Headquarters | Arivalayam, Anna Salai, Chennai - 600018 |
| Alliance | United Progressive Alliance |
| Political ideology | Social Democratic/Populist |
| Publications | Murasoli |
| Website | http://www.dmk.in |
| See also the politics of India series | |
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Tamil:திராவிட முன்னேற்றக் கழகம்) (literally "Dravidian Progress Federation" [1]) is a regional political party in the state of Tamil Nadu in India, but also has presence in nearby union territory of Puducherry. It is a Dravidian party found by C. N. Annadurai as a breakaway faction from the Dravidar Kazhagam headed by Periyar. The party is headed by M Karunanidhi, the incumbent Chief Minister of the state.
Contents |
[edit] Formation of DMK
DMK traces its roots to the South Indian Liberal Federation (Justice Party) formed in 1916, by P. Thiyagarayar, Dr.P T Rajan, Dr. Natesanar and few others. The Justice Party, whose objectives included social equality and justice, came to power in the first General Elections to Chennai Presidency in 1920.[2] E. V. Ramasami Naicker (known as "Periyar"), a popular Tamil leader, who had joined Indian National Congress in 1919, became disillusioned with what he considered as the Brahminic leadership of the party.[3] He quit Congress and in 1935, he joined the Justice Party. In the 1937 elections, the Justice Party lost and the Indian National Congress under C. Rajagopalachari ("Rajaji") came to power in Madras Presidency. Rajaji's introduction of Hindi as a compulsory subject in schools led to the anti-Hindi agitations, led by Periyar and his associates. In August 1944, Periyar carved out the "Dravida Kazhagham" out of the Justice Party at the Salem Provincial Conference.[4]
However, over the years, disputes arose between Periyar and his followers. In 1949, several of his followers led by C. N. Annadurai, decided to split from Dravida Kazhagham, after an aged Periyar married a young woman Maniammai and anointed his young wife to act as his successor to lead the party, superseding senior party leaders. Until then E. V. K. Sampath, the nephew of Periyar, was considered as his political heir.[5]
Annadurai, on September 17, 1949 along with V. R. Nedunchezhiyan, K.A.Mathialagan, K. Anbazhagan, E. V. K. Sampath and thousands of others in Robinson park in Royapuram in Chennai announced the formation of the DMK. Few months later M. Karunanidhi, left DK and joined the DMK. The DMK carried on the principles and aims of the Justice Party and Dravidar Kazhagam. The movement was initially mooted as one that championed the cause of socially and economically disadvantaged sections of the society. It was also sympathetic to the demand for a separate "Dravida Nadu" state.
DMK has been firmly in favour of reservation for the backward classes for social upliftment, and has increased reservation up to 69% the highest in the country. DMK along with Periyar forced the withdrawal of the Kula Kalvi Thittam of Rajaji where schools will work in the morning and students had to compulsorily learn the family vocation in the afternoon.[6]
MGR was a member of the DMK, and he was seen as an icon of the DMK and spread its message through films like Anbe Vaa. In 1953 MGR joined the DMK popularised the party flag and symbol by showing it in his movies.Annadurai wanted a separate Dravida Nadu which he gave after 1962 China War. The Anti-Hindi agitations of 1965, forced the central government to abandon its efforts to impose Hindi as the only official language of the country. In 1967, DMK came to power in Tamil Nadu in 1967, after the anti-Hindi tide helped it defeat the Congress.
[edit] Karunanidhi era
 |
|
Dravidian movement |
|
Former Dravidian parties Justice party · Thamizhaga Munnetra Munnani · Thayga Marumalarchi Kazhagam |
|
Contemporary Dravidian parties Dravidar Kazhagam |
|
Chief Ministers from Dravidian parties
C. N. Annadurai · V. R. Nedunchezhiyan · M. Karunanidhi · M. G. Ramachandran · Janaki Ramachandran · J. Jayalalithaa · O. Panneerselvam |
With the passage of time and a shift in the national political scenario towards coalition governments, DMK adopted a more national outlook. It championed the cause of Tamil language and culture, and used its national clout to make Government of India declare Tamil as a classical language.DMK and its president Dr.M.Karunanidhi was the main root cause of implementing mandal commission to provide rights to backward castes.DMK was the cause for naming the state Tamilnadu as Tamilnadu instead of Madras state,and also Madras as chennai.In 2008 DMK announced "Thai" as the first month for tamils instead of following the Sanskrit way.
The DMK is also sympathetic to the freedom struggle in and of Tamil Eelam. It split over the past three decades into the AIADMK in the 1970s and the MDMK in the 1990s.
[edit] MGR and split in the party
M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) who was a popular actor and the then party treasurer had brought his fans to the party and also playing a vital part in popularising the party's ideologies. The political feud between MGR and the then party president Karunanidhi emerged as an aftermath of the latter calling himself "Mujib of Tamil Nadu". MGR called for a boycoutt of the party's General Council. With the crisis falling into call for curruption probe by MGR, he was eventually suspended from the General Council. Thus emerged a new party Anna DMK (AIADMK).[7]
[edit] Presidents
| Year | President |
|---|---|
| 1949-1969 | Annadurai |
| 1969-till date | Karunanidhi |
[edit] Election history
See pdf for summary. DMK's worst poll performance ever in this state was registered in 1962 and its peak in 1996.
[edit] Madras State
| Year | General Election | Votes Polled | Seats Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 3rd Assembly | 3,435,633 | 50 |
| 1962 | 3rd Lok Sabha | 2,315,610 | 7 |
| 1967 | 4th Assembly | 6,230,552 | 137 |
| 1967 | 4th Lok Sabha | 5,524,514 | 25 |
[edit] Tamil Nadu
| Year | General Election | Votes Polled | Seats Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 5th Assembly | 7,654,935 | 184 |
| 1971 | 5th Lok Sabha | 5,622,758 | 23 |
| 1977 | 6th Assembly | 4,258,771 | 48 |
| 1977 | 6th Lok Sabha | 3,323,320 | 2 |
| 1980 | 7th Assembly | 4,164,389 | 37 |
| 1980 | 7th Lok Sabha | 4,236,537 | 16 |
| 1984 | 8th Assembly | 6,362,770 | 24 |
| 1984 | 8th Lok Sabha | 5,597,507 | 2 |
| 1989 | 9th Assembly | 8,001,222 | 150 |
| 1989 | 9th Lok Sabha | 7,038,849 | 0 |
| 1991 | 10th Assembly | 5,535,668 | 2 |
| 1991 | 10th Lok Sabha | 5,601,597 | 0 |
| 1996 | 11th Assembly | 11,423,380 | 173 |
| 1996 | 11th Lok Sabha | 6,967,679 | 17 |
| 1998 | 12th Lok Sabha | 5,140,266 | 5 |
| 1999 | 13th Lok Sabha | 6,298,832 | 12 |
| 2001 | 12th Assembly | 8,669,864 | 31 |
| 2004 | 14th Lok Sabha | 7,064,393 | 16 |
| 2006 | 13th Assembly | 8,728,716 | 96 |
[edit] Pondicherry
| Year | General Election | Votes Polled | Seats Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 2nd Assembly | 61,717 | 15 |
| 1974 | 3rd Assembly | 47,823 | 2 |
| 1977 | 4th Assembly | 30,441 | 3 |
| 1980 | 5th Assembly | 68,030 | 14 |
| 1984 | 8th Lok Sabha | 97,672 | 0 |
| 1985 | 6th Assembly | 87,754 | 5 |
| 1989 | 9th Lok Sabha | 157,250 | 0 |
| 1990 | 7th Assembly | 101,127 | 9 |
| 1991 | 8th Assembly | 96,607 | 4 |
| 1991 | 10th Lok Sabha | 140,313 | 0 |
| 1996 | 9th Assembly | 105,392 | 7 |
| 1996 | 11th Lok Sabha | 183,702 | 0 |
| 1998 | 12th Lok Sabha | 168,122 | 1 |
| 2001 | 10th Assembly | 83,679 | 7 |
| 2006 | 11th Assembly | 7 |
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ Rao, MSA (1979) Urban Sociology in India Orient Longman Publishers.
- ^ Radhan, O.P. (2002). "A Time-Bound Plan for Muslim India", Encyclopaedia of Political Parties. Anmol Publications, 187. ISBN 8174888659.
- ^ Omvedt, Gail (2006). Dalit Visions: The Anti-caste Movement and the Construction on an Indian Identity. Orient Longman, 54-55. ISBN 8125028951.
- ^ Dirks, Nicholas B. (2001). Castes of Mind: Colonialism and the Making of Modern India. Princeton University Press, 263. ISBN 978-0691088952.
- ^ Priest-less weddings in TN VIP families - Sify News
- ^ Periyar's Movement
- ^ Robert L. Hardgrave, Jr.(1973) Politics and the Film in Tamilnadu: The Stars and the DMK. Asian Survey. University of California Press.
