As many as 10 Dalit MLAs of AIADMK-Amma met in the city on Wednesday and decided to take up the issue of the need to ensure higher representation of Dalits in the State Cabinet.
Chaired by R. Tamizhselvan, the meeting was attended primarily by first-time legislators. “This is why I don’t want to reveal their identity,” said Mr. Tamizhselvan, two-time MLA of Perambalur.
The participants felt that when the merger of AIADMK (Amma) and AIADMK (Puratchi Thalaivi Amma) materialises and changes are made in the composition of the Cabinet, the presence of Dalits in the Cabinet too should go up.
As many as 32 MLAs from SC/ST backgrounds were elected from reserved constituencies on the party ticket last year. Besides, P. Benjamin, a Dalit Christian and Minister for Rural Industries, won from Maduravoyal, a general constituency. In all, there are 33 MLAs from the SC/ST community, of whom three MLAs — K. Manickam of Sholavandan, A. Manoharan of Vasudevanallur and N. Manoranjitham of Uthangarai — now belong to AIADMK (PTA), while the rest are with AIADMK (Amma).
Mr. Tamizhselvan pointed out that the Cabinet has just two Ministers – V. Saroja, in charge of Social Welfare, and V.M. Rajalakshmi, in charge of Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare — who won in reserved constituencies.
With Mr. Benjamin, the tally of Dalits in the Cabinet goes up to three. Besides, P. Dhanapal, who represents Avinashi, is the Assembly Speaker.
