Tamil Nadu’s Transport Minister S.S. Sivasankar has raised critical questions regarding the stance of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) president Anbumani Ramadoss on the caste census. In a recent statement, Sivasankar challenged Ramadoss to speak to their alliance partner, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), urging action on this significant issue.
This response comes after Ramadoss criticized the DMK government for its alleged failure to conduct a caste census and for not facilitating internal reservations for the Vanniyar community.
In his remarks, Sivasankar accused PMK leaders of exploiting the Vanniyar community for political gain, suggesting they are leveraging this demographic to negotiate more electoral seats. He emphasized that in previous elections, the electorate demonstrated their awareness and resilience against such tactics.
Addressing Ramadoss’ pledge of unconditional support to DMK for the 2026 Assembly elections, contingent on the provision of 15% internal reservations for Vanniyars, Sivasankar questioned whether Ramadoss would consider leaving the BJP-led alliance, which he claims obstructs reservation efforts.
Sivasankar further alleged that the BJP administration is undermining the reservation system and accused Ramadoss and Anbumani of colluding with them, betraying the interests of the people they claim to represent.
Highlighting the positive impact of existing reservations, Sivasankar noted that enrollment from the Vanniyar community in higher education, including medical courses, has seen a significant increase of over 10.5% in the past decade. He cautioned that introducing a 10.5% internal reservation specifically for Vanniyars could negatively impact them.
The Minister reiterated that the DMK government is committed to making decisions that are thoughtful and considerate of all communities involved.
Published – December 25, 2024 02:38 pm IST
