Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam

Last updated

Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam
Leader Best .S.Ramasamy Gounder
Founded2001
Headquarters Coimbatore, Kongu Nadu
Ideology Indigenism
Social conservatism
Political position Centre-right
ECI Statusregistered Unrecognised Party
Alliance DPA (2011,2014-2019) NDA (2011) AIADMK+ (2019-present)
Party flag
Flag of Kongunadu.svg
Website
https://www.kongunadumunnetrakazhagam.com/

Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam (KMK) is a caste based political party representing the Kongu Vellala Gounders, a backward caste in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The party's vote base is mainly concentrated in the Kongu Nadu region of Tamil Nadu. [1]

Contents

Origins and platform

The party launched in the name of "Kongunadu Munnetra Peravai" but later its leaders adopted the already registered name of "Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam". It was launched in 2009 at Coimbatore by the Kongu Vellala Goundergal Peravai, a Gounder caste organisation. [2] Although the party was launched by a Gounder organisation, [3] the party's founder Best Ramasamy dismissed that the party was only for the cause of Kongu Velala Gounders and said that his party will work for the cause of the western Tamil Nadu. [4] The party also claims that it will work for development of the Kongu region. [5]

2009 Lok Sabha election

The party contested in 12 constituencies independently (without alliance) in 2009 lokshaba elections and polled around 6 lakhs (600,000) votes in the Kongu region. [6] Although the party was not able to win any seat still it was considered as a good show by political observers as the party was started only 4 months before the elections. The party mainly contributed for the defeat of all Congress - Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) alliance candidates in the Kongu region of Tamil Nadu. [7] The party came third in many constituencies ahead of Vijayakanth's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam. [6]

2011 Assembly election

In the 2011 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, KMK joined hands with DMK and contested 7 seats. It lost in all the 7 seats and in local body elections, the party allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). [8]

Election history

YearElectionVotes polledSeats contestedSeats wonAlliance with
2009 2009 Indian general election 5,79,704120--
2011 2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election 3,70,04470 United Progressive Alliance

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</span> Political party in India

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is an Indian political party based in the state of Tamil Nadu, where it is currently the ruling party, and the union territory of Puducherry, where it is currently the main opposition.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">M. G. Ramachandran</span> Indian actor and former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (1917–1987)

Maruthur Gopalan Ramachandran , popularly known by his initials M.G.R., was an Indian actor, politician, and philanthropist who served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1977 until his death in 1987. He was the founder and first general secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. On 19 March 1988, Ramachandran was posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour. Ramachandran is regarded as one of the most influential politicians of post-independence India.

All India Moovendar Munnani Kazhagam is a Tamil political party in India, based amongst the thevar caste. The party founder and president is Dr. N. Sedhuraman. The party was founded by All India Thevar Peravai in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam</span> Indian political party

The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a political party active in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It was established by Vaiko in 1994 after he left the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The headquarters of the party is called Thayagam, which is located at Rukmini Lakshmipathi Salai, Egmore, Chennai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kongunadu Makkal Katchi</span> Indian political party

Kongunadu Makkal Katchi is a political party in Tamil Nadu, India, based amongst the Vellala Gounder caste. The party was founded shortly ahead of the 2001 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam</span> Indian political party

The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam is an Indian regional political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is a Dravidian party founded by the former leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Vijayakant, at Madurai on 14 September 2005. The party was led by its founder until 14 December 2023 from its date of founding. From 14 December 2023, the DMDK is led by Vijayakant's wife Premallatha Vijayakant as general secretary of the party. The party served as the main opposition party in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 27 May 2011 to 21 February 2016. The headquarters of the party is located at Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, Koyambedu, Chennai.

Kongu Vellalar is a community found in the Kongu region of Tamil Nadu, India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election</span> Elections to the legislative assembly of Tamil Nadu

The thirteenth legislative assembly election, of Tamil Nadu was held on 8 May 2006. It was held for all 234 constituencies to elect the government in the state for the following five years. The votes were counted three days later on 11 May 2006 and all the results were out by the end of the day. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led (DMK) front won the elections, with the DMK emerging as the single-largest party with 96 seats, and its leader, M Karunanidhi was sworn in as Chief Minister for a fifth and final term. This election marked the first time the state saw a hung assembly with no party gaining a majority of its own. As a result, DMK formed a minority government with its allies, which is the first in the state since the 1952 election. 13th Assembly was instituted due to this election.

Politics of Tamil Nadu is the politics related to the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

"Best" S.Ramasamy is an Indian politician and entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu. He is the president of the Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam (KMK) party. He is also the chairman of "Best Group"– a group of apparel and textile companies in the city of Tirupur.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1957 Madras State Legislative Assembly election</span>

The second legislative assembly election to the Madras state was held on 31 March 1957. This was the first election held after the linguistic reorganisation of Madras State in 1956. Indian National Congress and its leader, K. Kamaraj won the election and defeated their rival, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. In 1954, due to the resignation of C. Rajagopalachari, for his controversial Kula Kalvi Thittam, the leadership of Congress was contested between K. Kamaraj, and C. Subramaniam. Eventually, K. Kamaraj, won the support of the party, was elected leader and chief minister of Madras State in 1954. In a surprise move, he appointed both M. Bhaktavatsalam and C. Subramaniam, to his cabinet, allowing great unity amongst the Congress that ruled the state of Madras, for the next decade. This election saw future DMK leaders M. Karunanidhi and K. Anbazhagan win their first MLA seats in the legislative assembly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1962 Madras State Legislative Assembly election</span>

The third legislative assembly election to the Madras state was held on 21 February 1962. The Indian National Congress party, led by K. Kamaraj, won the election. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam made significant in-roads in the election and emerged as the second party for the first time by winning 50 seats. 1962 Election remains the most recent election in which Indian National Congress to form a majority Government in the State as its support was heavily declined due to rise of Dravidian political parties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1998 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu</span> Parliamentary election in India

The 1998 Indian general election polls in Tamil Nadu were held for 39 seats in the state. New elections were called when Indian National Congress (INC) left the United Front government led by I. K. Gujral, after they refused to drop the regional Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party from the government after the DMK was linked by an investigative panel to Sri Lankan separatists blamed for the killing of Rajiv Gandhi. The result was a landslide victory for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) winning 30 seats, which helped result in Atal Bihari Vajpayee being sworn in as the 16th Prime Minister of India. J. Jayalalithaa and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, broke off from their long alliance with Indian National Congress and formed an alliance with Bharatiya Janata Party, by joining the National Democratic Alliance. This state proved to be very important in determining the prime minister, since the 18 seats of AIADMK proved valuable for BJP to hold power. That was short-lived, since the AIADMK left the alliance in less than a year, and BJP lost the vote of confidence resulting in fresh elections being called.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. R. Eswaran</span> Indian politician and entrepreneur

E. R. Eswaran is an Indian politician and entrepreneur from Tamil Nadu. As of 21 March 2013 he is the General Secretary of the Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi party and as of 2021, is a Member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from the Tiruchengode constituency.

By-elections to nine state assembly constituencies were held in Tamil Nadu, in four separate phases. Election for Thirumangalam was held on 9 January and for Bargur, Thondamuthur, Ilaiyangudi, Cumbum, and Srivaikuntam constituencies on 18 August. Also, election took place for Vandavasi and Tiruchendur constituency on 19 December 2009 and finally for Pennagaram constituency on 27 March 2010. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) defeated All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Thirumangalam in the first phase and kept the winning momentum in the following general election.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election</span> Elections to the legislative assembly of Tamil Nadu

The Fourteenth Legislative Assembly Election was held on 13 April 2011 to elect members from 234 constituencies in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Results were released on 13 May 2011. Two major parties Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) faced the election as coalitions of multiple political parties: DMK front consisted of 8 parties and the AIADMK of 11 parties. Vijayakanth's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), which had contested the previous elections independently, allied with the AIADMK coalition. Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam boycotted the election following a disagreement with Jayalalithaa over seat-sharing. The outgoing Karunanidhi government was noted for the construction of new assembly building in Chennai, execution of various developmental projects, and implementation of programmes including free health care for the poor and issuance of a range of freebies such as color television to all. However, these were heavily overshadowed by other major issues such as incessant power cuts in households and industries, excessive sand mining, increasing prices of essential items, 2G spectrum case and undue influence of Karunanidhi's extended family in various aspects of Tamil politics and business and even media.

Kongu Vellala Goundergal Peravai is a caste organization in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It exists for the Kongu Vellalar Gounder or Vellala Gounder community.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu</span> Elections in Tamil Nadu

The 2014 Indian general elections for Tamil Nadu's 39 seats in the 16th Lok Sabha were held on 24 April 2014. The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam led by its general secretary J. Jayalalithaa won a spectacular victory, taking 37 of the 39 seats. The total electors in the state of Tamil Nadu for the election was 55,114,867 and 73.74% of voters exercised their right to do so. The results of the elections were declared on 16 May 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi</span> Indian political party

Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK) is a political party in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The party's vote base is mainly concentrated in western districts of Tamil Nadu. It was a splinter party of Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam (KMK) The party has one Member of Parliament from Namakkal and his name is A. K. P. Chinraj. and One Member of TamilNadu Legislative assembly, E.R.Easwaran. The party has four district councilors and ten union councillors.

2022 Tamil Nadu urban local body elections, to the Local civic bodies in Tamil Nadu were held in urban areas in the month of February 2022. The Greater Chennai Corporation, alongside 20 other municipal corporations of Tamil Nadu, went to polling on 19 February 2022 to elect councillors to represents the wards in the respective cities; the elected councillors will choose a mayor from amongst themselves.

References

  1. VIJAYABASKAR, M; WYATT, ANDREW (2013). "Economic Change, Politics and Caste: The Case of the Kongu Nadu Munnetra Kazhagam". Economic and Political Weekly. 48 (48): 103–111. ISSN   0012-9976. JSTOR   23528935.
  2. "Latest Tamilnadu, Indian Political News, Headlines, Information Online". www.dinamalar.com.
  3. "The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Beginning with message of conservation". 8 November 2012. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012.
  4. "The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : KMP to work for progressive Western Tamil Nadu". 8 November 2012. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012.
  5. "Meet 'Best' Ramasamy from Tirupur, Tamil Nadu's new political entrepreneur". 7 May 2009.
  6. 1 2 "Gounder consolidation could pose headache to major parties - Times Of India". 4 November 2012. Archived from the original on 4 November 2012.
  7. Prasad, Ayyappa (26 November 2010). "DMK bid to wrest Kongunadu". Kalugu Media. Archived from the original on 20 March 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. BJP ties up with KMK for forthcoming polls