In Tamil Nadu, elections are not just about party arithmetic. Across the region, dominant caste blocs – Vaniyas in the north, lower castes in the west, Thavars in the south, and Dalit and Nadar communities in key areas – continue to influence alliances, candidate selection and often even the final outcome.The Vanniyas are concentrated in northern districts such as Villuppuram, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, Salem, Cuddalore and Vellore. The influential OBC community came to prominence in politics after the violent protests led by S Ramadoss-led Vanniyar Sangam and before the M Karunanidhi government introduced the 20 per cent quota for the most backward classes in 1989.Since then, the community has largely supported PMK, the company founded by Ramadoss and now controversially controlled by his son Anbumani Ramadoss. A sizeable section of Vaniyars are also aligned with DMK and ADMK. This time, NDA member Anbumani’s PMK faction will contest 18 seats, while the elder Ramadoss has fielded candidates for 35 seats, most of them in the northern region.
Shortly before the 2021 assembly elections, the ADMK government introduced a 10.5% internal vaniyal quota, but the Supreme Court struck down the policy. The incoming DMK government has adopted a cautious approach, insisting that only the Center has the legal authority to conduct a caste census.The DMK government has three senior ministers from the community. “Both DMK and ADMK have allotted more seats to vanniyar, which shows the importance of community,” said CN Ramamurthy, founder and chairman of Vanniyar Federation. The DMK also got a boost last week when late PMK leader Guru’s daughter Guru Viruthambigai met CM MK Stalin and extended support.If the Vaniyas are central in the north, the natives continue to dominate in western Tamil Nadu, especially in the districts of Coimbatore, Erode and Salem. ADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and former ministers SP Velumani and P Thangamani continued to support the community leaders. Another community veteran KA Sengottaiyan has switched to Vijay’s TVK.In the 2021 assembly elections, the western region was the only region that remained with the ADMK, winning 29 out of 48 seats. This time, Stalin assigned the region to former minister V Senthilbalaji. “DMK candidates will win in several constituencies in the western region and we will form the next government,” Senthil Balaji told toy . In southern Tamil Nadu, Tevan influence remains strong in districts such as Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga, Virudhunagar, Theni and Madurai. The mukkulathor group, consisting of the Kallar, Maravar and Agamudaiyar communities, has long been considered an important support base for the ADMK, especially during the tenure of MGR and Jayalalithaa.But that foundation is showing signs of strain. Upsetting sections of the community over his slight, Palaniswami expelled three prominent leaders from the party: AMMK chief TTV Dhinakaran, former chief minister O Panneerselvam and Jayalalithaa aide VK Sasikala. In 2021, the ADMK won only 16 of the 58 seats in the south, while the DMK and Congress won 33 and 8 seats respectively.Panneerselvam has since joined the DMK. Sasikala launched the all-India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazagam and fielded 77 candidates with the stated aim of defeating the ADMK nominee. She campaigned on the theme of “Paradiniswami the Betrayer”.Dalits remain another important electoral force, with their population share ranging from 15% to 34% in many districts, with the exception of Genyakumari, where Dalit numbers are relatively low. SCs such as paraiyar, pallar and arunthiyar continue to have significant political influence.DMK ally VCK, led by Thol Thirumavalavan, remains an important voice among Dalit voters, especially in the paraiyar community in the north.Among Pala leaders, Puthiya Tamilagam’s S Krishnasamy is contesting independently from 60 seats after alliance talks with the ADMK failed. In the NDA camp, Dalit outfit chief John Pandian has been fielded from Rajapalayan and appears on the BJP’s lotus symbol. Vijay’s TVK and Seeman’s NTK have also made some headway in Dalit vote bank.In several districts in the south, the outcome also hinges on the economically influential communities of Nadal, namely Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Thothukudi, Virudhu Nagar and Konyakumari. Historically, the community has aligned itself with the Congress, largely because of former CM K Kamaraj, a Nadar who played a key role in achieving reservation for backward classes through the First Amendment to the Constitution.After Jayalalithaa’s death, the ADMK lost much of Nadar’s support as the leadership was seen to have an affinity for the mob and Vaniyar. Thereafter, DMK occupied part of the space and the party’s MP from Thoothukudi, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, paid considerable attention to the area. BJP leaders Tamilisai Soundararajan and Pon Radhakrishnan are also well-known faces of the community.
