The long-running feud between the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi threatens to polarise voters along caste lines in the reserved Parliamentary constituency of Villupuram.
The wedge between the PMK, which is seen to represent the interests of the Vanniyars and the VCK, a party seeking Dalit empowerment, has only become wider over the years. The divide could be sharply felt in a few villages near Tindivanam, Villupuram and in and around Ulundurpet.
Although VCK general secretary D. Ravikumar is contesting on the DMK’s “Rising Sun” symbol, in Vanniyar hamlets sections of voters are brazen about their support to the “Mango” — the PMK’s symbol though the party’s candidate Vadivel Ravanan is not as widely known as Mr. Ravikumar. The VCK is even referred to by its maiden name the Dalit Panthers of India (DPI) in Vanniyar-dominated regions.
On the other hand, large sections of the Dalit voters are rallying behind Mr. Ravikumar.
Beyond the demands revolving around the needs of the constituency, conversations with villagers suggest that the PMK’s political narrative has been that the VCK is involved in encouraging Dalit youth to target dominant caste girls and marry them. This campaign appears to have gained currency at the grass-roots.
“How can we vote for DPI that targets us?” asked a Vanniyar woman from a village few km off Marakanam Road near Tindivanam. Seated amongst a group of women, presumably from the dominant Vanniyar caste, she said, “We usually vote for ‘Two Leaves’. This time, we will vote for ‘Mango’ because the DPI is contesting on the other side.” The narrative was similar at Kilapakkam village in Ulundurpet, a so-called Vanniyar-belt. Some said they would consider backing T.T.V. Dhinakaran’s party (AMMK). Nonetheless, they all agreed that cash could be an influencing incentive.
On his part, Mr. Ravikumar is taking the Congress’ manifesto to the people. Addressing voters in Gidangal locality in Tindivanam recently, he launched into the Narendra Modi government “for consistently chipping away Dalit rights” and focussed on how families below poverty line would be paid ₹72,000 a year if the Congress-led alliance was voted to power.
The PMK is banking on the strength of its alliance and the perceived unpopularity of VCK and its cadres among the dominant upper castes.
The AMMK, which has fielded two-time former MLA Ganapathy, has a fairly robust party structure having roped in disgruntled AIADMK cadre in almost every booth in the constituency. The party is seeking to consolidate the non-Vanniyar, non-Dalit votes, besides tapping into the general discontent against ‘caste-centric’ parties and projecting Mr Ganapathy as the son-of-the-soil and Mr. Dhinakaran as Jayalalithaa’s political heir.
The X factor
AMMK office-bearers, requesting anonymity, said that other dominant castes in the constituency will naturally be repelled by two “caste parties” contesting against each other. “Why should Udayars, Reddiars, Naidus, Yadavas and others vote for the PMK or the VCK? They will naturally think that they are alienated. There is every chance that they will support the third party if positioned correctly,” argued a long-time AIADMK member, who is now in AMMK.
While cash for vote is a given, the voters appear to have calibrated their expectation and expect more from the AIADMK-PMK alliance. “I hope they give more because they are in power,” joked an old agricultural labourer.
