Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Template:Short description Template:Use Indian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Short description
Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". Template:Dravidian politics-col The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Template:Translation; abbr.Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". MDMK) 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.
History
Formation
Vaiko was a member of Rajya Sabha and a party activist of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Vaiko was a member of the party from his initial student days and actively participated in the party agitations and courted imprisonment several times. He was elected thrice to the Rajya Sabha. In 1994, he was forced out of the parent body as he was seen as a threat to DMK chief Karunanidhi's son, M.K. Stalin. Vaiko along with some district secretaries announced the decision to start a rival party, which became the MDMK.
Support for Sri Lankan Tamils
Vaiko voiced support for Tamils during the Sri Lankan Civil War, including for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam specifically and their goal of secession from Sri Lanka.
Support for the Mullaperiyar Dam
The Government of Kerala was keen to demolish the Mullaperiyar Dam because of safety concerns. However, the dam's reservoir is a prime source for irrigation for more than 8 districts including Theni. As a result, Vaiko led an agitation against the Kerala government.
Split in MDMK
With the looming possibility of a vote of confidence in Parliament against the UPA, two party MPs, L. Ganesan and Gingee N. Ramachandran, claimed that they enjoyed the support of the majority of party cadre and 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.[1]
Boycott of Assembly Election 2011
Due to issues in seat sharing, MDMK quit the ADMK Alliance and boycotted the 2011 Assembly elections of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
Sanchi Protest
The MDMK protested the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh in September 2012. Vaiko and his party members traveled to Sanchi. People who traveled through roadways were stopped by the police near Gadchiroli. Some party members tried to reach the spot by rail and air but they were detained by police before reaching Sanchi.[2]
MDMK snap ties with NDA
The MDMK left the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in December 2014, accusing the BJP of acting against Tamil interests. This came after heavy criticism of the party from BJP lawmaker Subramanian Swamy.[3]
Party flag and symbol
The election symbol is a match box. The colour of the party flag's top and bottom panel is red and middle panel is black. The party has a weekly journal called Sangoli which carries news and write ups for party workers.[4] In 2024 Parliament Election, the eci allotted Matchbox with stick symbol for contesting in Trichy.
Election history
| Election Year | Election | Votes polled | Won | Change of Seats | Alliance | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 11th Lok Sabha | 552,118 | Template:Composition bar | No Change | MDMK-CPI(M) | Lost |
| 1998 | 12th Lok Sabha | 1,602,504 | Template:Composition bar | Increase3 | NDA | Government |
| 1999 | 13th Lok Sabha | 1,620,527 | Template:Composition bar | Increase1 | NDA | Government |
| 2004 | 14th Lok Sabha | 1,679,870 | Template:Composition bar | No Change | DPA | Government |
| 2009 | 15th Lok Sabha | 1,112,908 | Template:Composition bar | Decrease3 | TF | Opposition |
| 2014 | 16th Lok Sabha | 1,417,535 | Template:Composition bar | Decrease1 | NDA | Lost |
| 2019 | 17th Lok Sabha | 563,591 | Template:Composition bar | Increase1 | UPA | Opposition |
| 2024 | 18th Lok Sabha | 5,42,213 | Template:Composition bar | Increase1 | INDIA | Opposition |
Tamil Nadu
| Election Year | Election | Votes polled | Won | Change of Seats | Alliance | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | 11th Assembly | 1,569,168 | Template:Composition bar | No Change | MDMK+ alliance | Lost |
| 2001 | 12th Assembly | 1,304,469 | Template:Composition bar | Decrease213 | MDMK+ | Lost |
| 2006 | 13th Assembly | 1,971,565 | Template:Composition bar | Increase 6 | AIADMK Front | Won |
| 2016 | 15th Assembly | 2,300,775 | Template:Composition bar | Decrease 6 | PWF | Lost |
| 2021 | 16th Assembly | 4,86,976 | Template:Composition bar | Increase 4 | SPA+ | Won |
List of Union Ministers
| No. | Portrait | Portfolio | Name (Birth–Death)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
Term in office | Constituency (House)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
Prime Minister | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Assumed office | Left office | Time in office | |||||||
| 1 | File:No image available.svg | Minister of Non-Conventional Energy Sources [MoS(I/C)] |
M. Kannappan (–) |
13 October 1999 |
30 December 2003 |
Template:Ayd | Tiruchengode (Lok Sabha) |
Atal Bihari Vajpayee | rowspan=5 Template:Party color cell |
| 2 | File:No image available.svg | Minister of Textiles [MoS] |
Gingee N. Ramachandran (born 1944) |
13 October 1999 |
30 September 2000 |
Template:Ayd | Tindivanam (Lok Sabha) | ||
| Minister of Finance [MoS] |
30 September 2000 |
1 July 2002 |
Template:Ayd | ||||||
| Minister of Finance & Company Affairs [MoS] |
1 July 2002 |
24 May 2003 |
Template:Ayd | ||||||
| Minister of Textiles [MoS] |
8 September 2003 |
30 December 2003 |
Template:Ayd | ||||||
See also
References
External links
Template:Dravidian politics Template:Indian political parties