Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Encyclopedia
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK; ) is a political party
in the India
n state of Tamil Nadu
formed in 1994 by Mr. V. Gopalswamy
(also known as Vaiko), a member of Rajyasabha and a party activitist of DMK. Mr. V. Gopalsamy grew in the party from his student days. He actively participated in the party agitations and courted imprisonment several times. He was detained under MISA during emergency with other party leaders and workers. His style of speaking is his own, quoting world events and history, he attracted a lot of support. Particularly the youths of DMK had a liking for him. This created antagonism towards him by the leaders and was forced out of the Parent body on false charges. His sympathy for the cause
of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
is widely known. With the looming possibility of a vote of confidence in Parliament against the UPA
, Two party MP's, L Ganesan and Genjee N Ramachandran, claimed that they enjoy the support of the majority of party cadre, decided to pledge support to the UPA government.They later withdrew their claim and joined DMK when it was found that they had forged letters of support of Party executives.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
formed in 1994 by Mr. V. Gopalswamy
V. Gopalswamy
Vai. Gopalsamy , popularly known as Vaiko is a prominent politician in Tamil Nadu, in south India. He was born in Kallingappatti, Tirunelveli district, Madras Presidency, in 1944 to a Telugu speaking Kamma Naidu family who descended from the Nayaks of Gandikota...
(also known as Vaiko), a member of Rajyasabha and a party activitist of DMK. Mr. V. Gopalsamy grew in the party from his student days. He actively participated in the party agitations and courted imprisonment several times. He was detained under MISA during emergency with other party leaders and workers. His style of speaking is his own, quoting world events and history, he attracted a lot of support. Particularly the youths of DMK had a liking for him. This created antagonism towards him by the leaders and was forced out of the Parent body on false charges. His sympathy for the cause
Tamil Eelam
Tamil Eelam , is the name given by certain Tamils in Sri Lanka and the Sri Lankan Tamil diaspora to the independent state which they aspire to create in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Tamil Eelam has no official status or recognition by any other state or authority...
of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
is widely known. With the looming possibility of a vote of confidence in Parliament against the UPA
United Progressive Alliance
The United Progressive Alliance is a ruling coalition of center-left political parties heading the government of India. The coalition is led by the Indian National Congress , which is currently the single largest political party in the Lok Sabha...
, Two party MP's, L Ganesan and Genjee N Ramachandran, claimed that they enjoy the support of the majority of party cadre, decided to pledge support to the UPA government.They later withdrew their claim and joined DMK when it was found that they had forged letters of support of Party executives.
Election history
MDMK's worst poll performance ever in Tamil Nadu was registered in 1996 and its peak, a decade later, in 2006.Tamil Nadu
| Year | General Election | Votes Polled | Seats Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 11th Assembly | 1,569,168 | 0 |
| 1996 | 11th Lok Sabha | 1,222,415 | 0 |
| 1998 | 12th Lok Sabha | 1,602,504 | 3 |
| 1999 | 13th Lok Sabha | 1,620,527 | 4 |
| 2001 | 12th Assembly | 1,304,469 | 0 |
| 2004 | 14th Lok Sabha | 1,679,870 | 4 |
| 2006 | 13th Assembly | 1,971,565 | 6 |
| 2009 | 15th Lok Sabha | - | 1 |
Pondicherry
| Year | General Election | Votes Polled | Seats Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 9th Assembly | 14,657 | 0 |
| 1996 | 11th Lok Sabha | 13,397 | 0 |
| 2001 | 10th Assembly | 4,910 | 0 |
| 2006 | 11th Assembly | 1 |
External links
- Official website of MDMK
- Puliyangudi Palanisamy
- Sangoli (weekly) Official magazine of MDMK party.
- Unofficial online version of Sangoli (weekly) Magazine of MDMK party.
- Unofficial Website of MDMK party
- Blog of a Vaiko's fan. Contains the speeches, videos and other news about Vaiko.
- Another blog of Vaiko's fans (MDMK cadres). Contains political & literature speeches of Vaiko and other news about Vaiko and MDMK in text and video forms.