Pattali Makkal Katchi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pattali Makkal Katchi
Leader	S. Ramadoss
President	Anbumani Ramadoss
Chairperson	G. K. Mani
Founder	S. Ramadoss
Founded	16 July 1989 (35 years ago) (1989-07-16)
Headquarters	Tindivanam, Villupuram District, Chennai - 604001, Tamil Nadu
Ideology	Populism
ECI Status	Unrecognised Party
Alliance	NDA (1998-2004, 2014-2016, 2019-present) AIADMK-Congress (2001-2004) DMK-Congress (UPA) (2004-2009, 2011-2014) AIADMK (UNPA) (2009-2011)
Seats in Lok Sabha	0 / 543
Seats in Rajya Sabha	1 / 245
Seats in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly	5 / 234
Election symbol
(Ripe Mango)
Elections

The Pattali Makkal Katchi (which means "Working People's Party"), often called PMK, is a political party in Tamil Nadu, India. It was started by S. Ramadoss in 1989. The party mainly focuses on the needs of the Vanniyar community in northern Tamil Nadu. Its election symbol is a "Ripe Mango". The PMK is currently part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which is led by the BJP.

The PMK has been known for its involvement in protests that sometimes led to public property damage. A former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha, once said the party caused a lot of violence and damage. She even threatened to ban it because of these incidents.

History of the PMK Party

Starting with Vanniyar Sangam

S. Ramadoss first created the Vanniyar Sangam in the late 1970s. This group brought together different organizations for the Vanniyar community. The Vanniyar Sangam is like the parent group for the PMK party.

In 1987, the Vanniyar Sangam organized big protests. They wanted the Vanniyar community to be recognized as a "Most Backward Caste" (MBC). This status would give them special reservations (set-aside spots) in education and jobs. During these protests, the state of Tamil Nadu was very disrupted for about a week. Thousands of trees were cut down, highways were blocked and damaged, and many houses were burned. Police actions during these protests led to the deaths of 21 protestors.

Later, in 1989, the government led by M. Karunanidhi agreed to give MBC status to the Vanniyars. This meant they would get the reservations they had asked for.

The PMK Party is Formed (1989-Present)

After the successful protests, S. Ramadoss officially started the PMK party on July 16, 1989. It grew directly from the Vanniyar reservation movement.

Before the 2004 elections, the PMK joined a large group of parties called the Democratic Progressive Alliance. This group included important parties like the DMK and the Indian National Congress (INC). Because the PMK won many seats, it gained power in both the state government of Tamil Nadu and the central government in India. This helped the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) form the government at the national level.

After the 2004 national elections, the PMK continued to be part of the UPA, which was led by the INC. In 2008, the DMK party in Tamil Nadu ended its partnership with the PMK. However, the PMK remained part of the UPA government at the national level. In 2009, the PMK decided to leave the UPA and join a different group led by the AIADMK.

In April 2013, Ramadoss and his son, Anbumani Ramadoss, were arrested by the Jayalalitha government. This happened after PMK supporters were involved in violence, causing a lot of property damage. Jayalalitha said the party was causing serious trouble. She claimed they threw petrol bombs at moving vehicles and damaged many cars and buses. She even threatened to ban the party. Ramadoss and his son were released after 12 days in jail.

In the 2014 national elections, the PMK joined forces with the BJP-led NDA. Anbumani Ramadoss won a seat in the Dharmapuri area. He was one of only two non-AIADMK members of parliament from Tamil Nadu at that time.

The PMK continued its alliance with the AIADMK and BJP in the 2019 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu. They ran for 7 seats but did not win any.

In November 2020, Ramadoss called for protests. He demanded a 20% internal reservation for Vanniyars within the MBC category for jobs and education. During these protests, some PMK supporters threw stones at a moving train and blocked traffic. This happened when they were stopped from entering Chennai. A bill to create a 10.5% internal reservation for Vanniyars was passed on February 26, 2021. This was done by the AIADMK government just before the April 6 assembly elections. The PMK had threatened to leave the alliance if their demand was not met. In July 2021, the DMK government issued an order to put this 10.5% quota bill into action.

In the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, the PMK ran for 23 seats as part of the AIADMK alliance. They won five seats. In the assembly, the PMK voted for resolutions against certain laws, even though their allies, AIADMK and BJP, walked out. The PMK later left the AIADMK-led alliance for the 2021 local elections.

What the PMK Believes In

The PMK is different from other political parties in Tamil Nadu. It openly asks for support based on people's caste identity. The party has been involved in protests that have sometimes led to violence.

Important Leaders of PMK

The main leaders of the Pattali Makkal Katchi are:

Former Ministers from PMK

Several members of the PMK have served as ministers in the central government:

• Dalit Ezhilmalai - Was a central health and family welfare minister (1998-1999).
• A. K. Moorthy - Was a central railway minister (2002-2004).
• E. Ponnuswamy - Was a central petroleum minister (1999-2001).
• N. T. Shanmugam - Served as central health and family welfare minister (1999-2000), central coal minister (2000-2001), and central food processing industries minister (2002-2004).
• R. Velu - Was a central railway minister (2004-2009).
• Anbumani Ramadoss - Was a central health and family welfare minister (2004-2009).

Election Results for PMK

The PMK has taken part in many elections in both Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

Election Year	Election	Votes polled	Won	Change of Seats	Alliance	Result
1991	10th Assembly	1,452,982	1 / 194	1	None	Lost
1996	11th Assembly	1,042,333	4 / 116	3	PMK+	Lost
2001	12th Assembly	1,557,500	20 / 27	16	AIADMK+	Won
2006	13th Assembly	1,863,749	18 / 31	2	DMK +	Won
2011	14th Assembly	1,927,783	3 / 30	15	DMK +	Lost
2016	15th Assembly	2,300,775	0 / 234	3	None	Lost
2021	16th Assembly	1,756,796	5 / 23	5	AIADMK+	Lost

National Lok Sabha Elections (Tamil Nadu)

Lok Sabha election

Election Year	Election	Votes polled	Won	Change of Seats	Alliance	Result
1996	11th Lok Sabha	552,118	0 / 15	15	PMK+	Lost
1998	12th Lok Sabha	15,48,976	4 / 5	4	NDA	Government
1999	13th Lok Sabha	2,236,821	5 / 7	1	NDA	Government
2004	14th Lok Sabha	1,927,367	5 / 5	No Change	DPA	Government
2009	15th Lok Sabha	1,944,619	0 / 6	5	TF	Lost
2014	16th Lok Sabha	1,804,812	1 / 8	1	NDA	Government
2019	17th Lok Sabha	2,297,431	0 / 7	1	NDA	Government
2024	18th Lok Sabha		0 / 10		NDA	Government

^{DPA - Democratic Progressive Alliance NDA - National Democratic Alliance TF - Third Front PT - PMK-Tiwari Congress Front}

Puducherry Assembly Elections

Puducherry Legislative Assembly election

Election Year	Election	Votes polled	Won	Change of Seats	Alliance	Result
2006	2006 Pondicherry Legislative Assembly election	N.A.	2 / 30	2	DPA	Government

National Lok Sabha Elections (Puducherry)

Lok Sabha election

Election Year	Election	Votes polled	Won	Change of Seats	Alliance	Result	Candidate
1999	13th Lok Sabha	140,920	0 / 1	No Change	NDA	Lost	M. Ramadass
2004	14th Lok Sabha	241,653	1 / 1	1	DPA	Government	M. Ramadass
2009	15th Lok Sabha	208,619	0 / 1	1	TF	Lost	M. Ramadass

^{DPA - Democratic Progressive Alliance NDA - National Democratic Alliance TF - Third Front PT - PMK-Tiwari Congress Front}

Members of Parliament (Lok Sabha)

Here are some of the members from PMK who have served in the Lok Sabha (the lower house of India's Parliament):

Members of Parliament (Rajya Sabha)

The Rajya Sabha is the upper house of India's Parliament.

Images for kids

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  PMK Party Flag

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  The "Ripe Mango" election symbol of PMK