Ramadoss, DPI split ahead of elections

Not long ago, they were close allies in a high- profile campaign against Tamil actor Khushboo, and their fight to protect Tamil language and...

Not long ago, they were close allies in a high- profile campaign against Tamil actor Khushboo, and their fight to protect Tamil language and culture. Today, PMK leader, Dr S Ramadoss, and Thol Thirumavalavan, who heads the Dalit Panthers of India, and were strident partners in the Tamil Protection Movement, have split up.

Following Karunanidhi’s refusal to accommodate him, Thirumavalavan was forced to align with Amma, if only for political convenience, though at the cost of his friendship with Dr. Ramadoss. In the process, AIADMK chief J Jayalalithaa, ends her isolation for the coming Assembly election and gets her first significant ally.

Jayalalithaa has allocated nine seats to the DPI, a Dalit party with a moderate presence in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu. The DPI’s decision to join the AIADMK camp comes after days of wrangling with the Democratic Progressive Alliance and Dr Ramadoss’ attempt to get his friend included in the DMK-led front.

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Thirumavalavan issued several open invitations to the PMK to join him in a third front. Ramadoss too was hoping to get the DPI’s support to garner the Dalit votes. While Karunanidhi had nothing against PMK doling out a few seats from its own quota to the DPI, Ramdoss was reluctant to reduce his party’s share. Finally, in sheer frustration, Thirumavalavan decided to clinch a deal with Jayalalithaa. The DPI had contested on the DMK symbol in the 2001 Assembly election in eight seats and won just one. Thirumavalavan, who won on the DMK ticket, quit the alliance and gave up his seat in 2004. This is also being seen as one of the reasons for the DMK to turn the DPI away.

Thirumavavalan is likely to seek a common symbol for his candidates and hope to poll enough votes to gain recognition as a state-level party.

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