Chennai: Political parties talk so much about casteless society. But, when it comes to polls, caste plays one of the important factors while choosing candidates. Fielding Devar and Nadar contestants in south Tamilnadu, Gounders in the west, Vanniyars, Dalits and Naidus in the north is being followed as a strategy by major players and the upcoming Lok Sabha elections is no exception.
When DMK’s Kanimozhi, a Rajya Sabha MP, decided to face polls this time, her choice was Thoothukudi, where Nadars live in large numbers. The reason – her mother Rajathi Ammal is a Nadar and Kanimozhi believes she can get that caste’s support. To counter her, the BJP, which got the seat in the AIADMK-led alliance, has pitted its State president Tamilisai Soundararajan – Nadar again.
The DMK has allotted the Muslim-dominated Ramanathapuram to Indian Union Muslim league, Chidambaram, a reserved constituency to Thol Thirumavalavan’s pro-Dalit Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Udayars-filled Perambalur to Parivendhar of India Jananayaga Katchi and Namakkal, which has Gounders in a majority, to Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi.
And, while fielding its own 20 candidates, too, the party has given enough importance to caste.
The ruling AIADMK has given Vanniyar-dominated constituencies of Dharmapuri, Cuddalore, Arakkonam, Villupuram and Sriperumbudur to its ally, the PMK. Since Mudaliars are in sizeable numbers in Vellore, the seat has been allocated to A C Shanmugam’s Puthiya Neethi Katchi. Telugu-speaking people live in north Chennai where Vijayakanth’s DMDK is contesting from the AIADMK alliance (DMK has fielded Dr Kalanithi Veerasamy, a Naidu, from here).
For itself, the AIADMK, which is now controlled by Gounders and Devars, has retained Salem, Namakkal, Erode, Karur, Tirupur, Pollachi, Theni, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Myladuthurai and Nagapattinam among other constituencies.
“Casteless society sounds fine in textbooks and public speeches. In reality, communities play a major role not just in marriages, but in politics, too. It is sad that parties which pride themselves on following in the footsteps of Periyar and Ambedkar, give importance to castes for the sake of votes. We still have a long way to go to achieve the status of an egalitarian land. Or, it may end up as a dream, too,” says Arivu Sudar, a software analyst and poet.
Saathigal Illaiyadi Paapa, Kulath Thaazhchi Uyarchi Sollal Paavam Paapa – Mahakavi Bharathi