Byelections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram may test AIADMK’s sway over Scheduled Caste voters
The AIADMK party is contesting byelections in two Scheduled Caste (SC) reserved constituencies in Tamil Nadu, aiming to reverse a trend of declining support among SC voters since 2016. The article discusses the party's historical pro-SC policies under previous leaders and criticisms of the current leadership for not continuing these, noting the fragmentation of the SC vote bank.
Why it matters
These byelections are a crucial test for AIADMK's ability to regain support from a key demographic, potentially signaling shifts in political power dynamics in Tamil Nadu. The discussion on historical policies and current challenges highlights the ongoing importance of caste-based politics and social welfare schemes in Indian elections.
The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which has put up its candidates in the byelections to the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly constituencies, both reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs), hopes to reverse the trend of declining fortunes in its base among the SCs.
After the party bagged the highest number of 32 of the 44 reserved seats in the 2016 Assembly election, its tally among the SC constituencies has been going southward. In 2021, the number was 15, and five years later, it went down to eight. Of the newly-elected SC legislators of the AIADMK, two — K. Maragatham Kumaravel and P. Sathyabama — quit the organisation after voting in favour of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in the trust motion on the floor of the Assembly in mid-May.
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