Political parties are gearing up as nominations have begun in Tamilnadu. Mainstream political parties in Tamil Nadu are going the extra mile to accommodate Dalit icons, and are receptive to Dalit concerns.
Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2021
These parties are wary of an independent Dalit political identity, and would prefer to subsume them using a mixture of co-option, corruption and at times coercion.
In Tamil Nadu, there are three major Dalit castes.
Firstly, the Parayar caste is predominantly in the northern and central parts of the state, and is represented by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, the VCK led by Thirumavalavan.
Pallars and associated castes who are now termed as Devendra Kula Vellalar are in the south and in the coastal delta districts of the state and is partly represented by Puthiya Tamilagam (PT) led by Dr Krishnaswamy.
The Arundhathiyars are much smaller in number compared to the other two and lack an established political outfit representing them.
