N. Sankaraiah death | When Sankaraiah’s pull-out led to AIADMK’s maiden win

In line with the CPI(M)’s decision, he pulled out of the contest for the 1973 Dindigul Lok Sabha byelection. After MGR’s statement, the CPI (M) got convinced of the AIADMK’s intent to fight the Congress (R), the Congress (O) and the DMK.

Senior Communist leader and freedom fighter N. Sankaraiah in Chennai. File photo | Photo Credit: The Hindu

 

Veteran Marxist N. Sankaraiah, who passed away in Chennai on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 had in 1973 performed an uncommon act in the rough and tumble of politics — making way for the AIADMK candidate in line with his party’s decision.

What he did was recalled by the AIADMK’s former interim general secretary, V.K. Sasikala, in her condolence message. When the by-election schedule was announced for the Dindigul Lok Sabha constituency in April 1973, the political situation in Tamil Nadu was — to borrow a term from economics — “overheating”.

The ruling DMK had suffered a split after its treasurer M.G. Ramachandran quit the party in October 1972 and formed the AIADMK.

In Pictures | From the life of comrade N. Sankaraiah

An all party delegation lead by The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran calling on the Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in New Delhi on April 23, 1985 and presenting a memorandum on the problems of Sri Lankan Tamils and the Indian fishermen. Also seen are Tamil Nadu Finance Minister V.R. Nedunchezhian, Electricity Minister S. Ramachandran, S. Raghavanandam, Abdus Samad (Muslim League) S. Andi Thevar (All India Forward Block), M. Kalyanasundaram (CPI), N. Sankaraiah (CPI-M), O. Subramaniam (Cong-I)

Tamil Maanila Congress president G.K. Moopanar, N. Sankaraiah of CPI-M, Nallakannu of CPI who led the demonstration demanding the resignation of the Vajpayee-led BJP government over the Defence deal scam, at Chennai

CPI leaders Varadarajan, Sankaraiah and TK. Rangarajan calling on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa at her residence in Chennai.

DMK president M. Karunanidhi, CPI (M) leader N. Sankaraiah, N. Ram, Editor-in-Chief of The Hindu, at a human chain rally in Chennai, while protesting against the Tamil Nadu Assembly's order against journalists.

N. Sankaraiah, senior leader of Communist Party of India (Marxist), addressing the party cadres after hoisting the party flag on the occasion of May Day, in Chennai on May 1, 2011

CPI (M) leaders Varadarajan and Sankaraiah

N. Sankaraiah (right), former state secretary, CPI (M), interacting with Prakash Karat, general secretary, CPI (M), at the Golden Rock Martyrs Day function in Tiruchi on September 5, 2011. Veteran CPI (M) leader R. Umanath is also in the picture.

CPI state secretary R. Nallakannu, Tamil Nadu Congress working president, E.V.K.S. Elangovan and CPI(M) leader N. Sankaraiah take part in a conference in Tiruchi on December 10, 2022

CPI (M) leader N. Sankaraiah, addressing a public meeting in Madurai on January 27, 2018

N. Sankaraiah and Prakash Karat paying tribute to the party martyr at the 21st CPI (M) Tamil Nadu State Conference in Chennai on February 16, 2015

Freedom fighter N. Sankaraiya, releases the publication`Thamizhaga Panpattu Suzhal’. It is being received by K. Veeramani, president of Dravidar Kazhagam at a function held at Nungambakkam in Chennai on November 13, 2013

Veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader N. Sankaraiah addressing at the Lok Sabha election meeting for party's North Chennai candidate U. Vasuki at Royapuram in Chennai on April 18, 2014

CPI (M) leader and freedom fighter N. Sankaraiah celebrates his 100th birthday in Chennai on July 15, 2020

Freedom fighter and veteran CPI (M) leader N. Sankaraiah addressing during centenary celebrations, at CPI (M) office, T. Nagar, in Chennai on October 17, 2019

Communist Party of India (CPI) leader R. Nallakannu greeting veteran Communist leader N. Sankaraiah on his 101st birthday at his residence in Chennai July 15, 2022

Veteran Communist leader N. Sankaraiah releasing All India Agricultural Workers Union 10th state conference logo on December 1, 2022

CPI (M) leader N. Sankaraiah addressing the press in Chennai

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The fledgling party teamed up with the Communist Party of India (CPI). CPI leader M. Kalyanasundaram and MGR presented to Governor K.K. Shah a memorandum of charges against the DMK government. The CPI(M) and the CPI were not in the same camp those days. The opposing formations, which had fought the 1971 Assembly election, were witnessing churns.

The DMK’s former ally, Congress (Ruling), led by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, decided to go it alone. It put up K.R. Cheemaichamy, who was earlier in the Swatantra Party.

The Congress (O), with K. Kamaraj as its guiding force, announced the candidature of N.S.V. Chithan, who later represented Dindigul thrice in the Lok Sabha. The DMK’s nominee was Pon. Muthuramalingam, who became Labour and Information Minister in the Karunanidhi Cabinet of 1989-91, while the AIADMK’s choice was K. Maya Thevar, a lawyer practising in Chennai.

It was in these circumstances that the CPI(M) decided in early April to field Sankaraiah, who had served as the Madurai West MLA from 1967 to 1971.

The then secretary of the State unit, A. Balasubramaniam, said that though the AIADMK opposed both the DMK and the Congress (O), it had not clarified its stand on the Congress (R), whose policies had been leading to “increased unemployment and favouring the exploiting classes”. After MGR issued a statement a few weeks later, Balasubramaniam announced that his party was convinced of the AIADMK’s intent to fight the Congress (R), the Congress (O) and the DMK. On the last day of withdrawal of nominations (April 28), Sankaraiah opted out.

When polling took place three weeks later, the AIADMK scored its maiden electoral victory. In the 1977 Assembly election, the AIADMK and the CPI(M) struck a deal, in which the latter was allotted 20 seats. It won 12 of them. This time, Sankaraiah was elected from Madurai East.