Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
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|---|---|
| Abbreviation | MDMK |
| Parliamentary Chairperson | Durai Vaiko |
| Lok Sabha leader | Durai Vaiko |
| Founder | Vaiko |
| Founded | 6 May 1994 |
| Split from | Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |
| Headquarters | Thayagam, 12, Rukmini Lakshmipathi Salai, Egmore, Chennai – 600008, Tamil Nadu, India. |
| Student wing | MDMK Student Wing |
| Youth wing | MDMK Youth Wing |
| Women's wing | MDMK Women's Wing |
| Labour wing | Marumalarchi Labour Front |
| Ideology |
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| Political position | Centre-left |
| Colours | Red |
| ECI Status | Unrecognised parties |
| Alliance |
Former Alliances
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| Seats in Lok Sabha |
1 / 543
|
| Seats in Rajya Sabha |
1 / 245
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| Seats in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly |
4 / 234
|
| Election symbol | |
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| Party flag | |
 |
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| Website | |
| www.mdmk.org.in | |
The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) is a political party in Tamil Nadu, India. Its name means "Renaissance Dravidian Progressive Federation." Vaiko started the party in 1994 after leaving another party called the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The main office of the MDMK is in Chennai and is called Thayagam.
Contents
History of the MDMK Party
How the MDMK Party Started
Vaiko was a member of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party for many years. He was very active and even went to jail several times for party causes. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha (a part of India's Parliament) three times. In 1994, he left the DMK. This happened because some people saw him as a challenge to the DMK leader's son, M.K. Stalin. Vaiko and some other leaders then decided to form their own party, which became the MDMK.
Supporting Tamils in Sri Lanka
Vaiko and the MDMK party have shown strong support for the Tamil people during the Sri Lankan Civil War. They supported the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and their goal for a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka.
Support for the Mullaperiyar Dam
The Mullaperiyar Dam is important for providing water to many districts in Tamil Nadu. However, the government of Kerala wanted to remove the dam because of safety worries. Vaiko led protests against Kerala's plan to demolish the dam. This was to protect the water supply for farming in Tamil Nadu.
Changes Within the MDMK Party
At one point, two MDMK Members of Parliament (MPs), L. Ganesan and Gingee N. Ramachandran, said they had the support of most party members. They decided to support the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government. However, they later joined the DMK when it was found that their claims of support were not true.
Boycotting the 2011 Elections
The MDMK decided not to take part in the 2011 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. This happened because they had disagreements about how many seats they would get in their alliance with the ADMK party.
Protest in Sanchi
In September 2012, the MDMK protested against the visit of the Sri Lankan President, Mahinda Rajapaksa, to Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh. Vaiko and his party members tried to reach Sanchi to protest. Many were stopped by the police before they could get there.
MDMK Leaves the NDA Alliance
In December 2014, the MDMK left the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which was led by the BJP. The MDMK said that the BJP was acting against the interests of the Tamil people. This decision came after some strong criticism from a BJP lawmaker.
Party Flag and Symbol
The MDMK's election symbol is a matchbox. The party flag has red panels at the top and bottom, with a black panel in the middle. The party also has a weekly newspaper called Sangoli. This paper shares news and articles for party members. In the 2024 Parliament Election, the Election Commission of India (ECI) officially gave the matchbox symbol to the MDMK for the Trichy election.
Election Results Overview
The MDMK has taken part in many elections for both the Lok Sabha (India's main Parliament) and the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Lok Sabha Election Results
The MDMK has won seats in the Lok Sabha in several elections. For example, they won 3 seats in 1998 and 4 seats in 1999 and 2004. In the 2024 election, they won 1 seat as part of the INDIA alliance.
Tamil Nadu Assembly Election Results
In the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections, the MDMK has also had varying results. In 2006, they won 6 seats as part of the AIADMK Front. In the 2021 election, they won 4 seats as part of the SPA+ alliance.
Ministers from MDMK
Some members of the MDMK party have served as ministers in the Indian government.
- M. Kannappan was the Minister of Non-Conventional Energy Sources from 1999 to 2003.
- Gingee N. Ramachandran served as the Minister of Textiles and later as the Minister of Finance (Minister of State) between 1999 and 2003.
See also
- List of political parties in India
