Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

Indian political party

Indian political party

Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

Abbreviation| MDMK
General Secretary| Vaiko
Parliamentary Chairperson| Durai Vaiko
Lok Sabha Leader| Durai Vaiko
Founder| Vaiko
Founded| 6 May 1994; 31 years ago (1994-05-06)
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|

* Tamil nationalism
* Dravidianism
* Social democracy
* Social justice
* Secularism

Political position| Centre-left[1]
Colours|   Red
ECI Status| Unrecognised parties[2]
Alliance|

* National Alliance
INDIA (since 2023)
* Regional Alliances
SPA (Tamil Nadu and Puducherry)

Former Alliances

* UPA (2004–2007), (2017-2023)(till dissolved)) (National)
* National Democratic Alliance
(1998-2003) (India)
* Democratic Progressive Alliance
(2006), (2017-2019)
* AIADMK+
(1998-1999)
(2006-2011) (Tamil Nadu)
* People's Welfare Front
(2016)
* MDMK Led Alliance
(1996-1998)

Seats in Lok Sabha|

1 / 543

Seats in Rajya Sabha|

1 / 245

Seats in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|

4 / 234

Election symbol
Party flag
Website
www.mdmk.org.in

* Politics of India
* Political parties
* Elections

This article is part of a series on the

Dravidian politics

Political parties

State parties

* All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
* Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam
* Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

* * *

* Unrecognised parties

* Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

Union cabinet ministers

* Cabinet ministers

* Sathiavani Muthu
* Aravinda Bala Pajanor
* Murasoli Maran
* T. G. Venkatraman
* Sedapatti R. Muthiah
* M. Thambidurai
* T. R. Baalu
* A. Raja
* Dayanidhi Maran
* M. K. Alagiri

* * *

* Ministers of state

* N. V. N. Somu
* T. R. Baalu
* R. K. Kumar
* Kadambur M. R. Janarthanan
* M. Kannappan
* Gingee N. Ramachandran
* A. Raja
* K. Venkatapathy
* Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan
* S. Regupathy
* S. S. Palanimanickam
* V. Radhika Selvi
* S. Jagathrakshakan
* S. Gandhiselvan
* D. Nepoleon

Chief ministers

* Chief ministers of Tamil Nadu

* C. N. Annadurai
* V. R. Nedunchezhiyan
* M. Karunanidhi
* M. G. Ramachandran
* V. N. Janaki Ramachandran
* J. Jayalalithaa
* O. Panneerselvam
* Edappadi K. Palaniswami
* M. K. Stalin

* * *

* Chief ministers of Puducherry

* M. O. H. Farook
* S. Ramassamy
* M. D. R. Ramachandran
* R. V. Janakiraman

* * *

* Deputy chief ministers of Tamil Nadu

* M. K. Stalin
* O. Panneerselvam
* Udhayanidhi Stalin

Speakers

* Deputy speakers of the Lok Sabha

* G. Lakshmanan
* M. Thambidurai

* * *

* Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

* Si. Pa. Adithanar
* Pulavar K. Govindan
* K. A. Mathiazhagan
* Munu Adhi
* K. Rajaram
* P. H. Pandian
* M. Tamilkudimagan
* Sedapatti R. Muthiah
* P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan
* K. Kalimuthu
* R. Avudaiyappan
* D. Jayakumar
* P. Dhanapal
* M. Appavu

* * *

* Speaker of the Puducherry Legislative Assembly

* S. Perumal
* S. Pakkiam
* G. Palaniraja
* V. M. C. Sivakumar

* * *

* Deputy speakers of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
* Pulavar K. Govindan
* G. R. Edmund
* P. Seenivasan
* N. Ganapathy
* Su. Thirunavukkarasar
* P. H. Pandian
* V. P. Balasubramanian
* V. P. Duraisamy
* K. Ponnusamy
* S. Gandhirajan
* Parithi Ilamvazhuthi
* A. Arunachalam
* P. Dhanapal
* Pollachi V. Jayaraman
* K. Pitchandi

Leaders of the opposition

* Leaders of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

* V. R. Nedunchezhiyan
* M. Karunanidhi
* J. Jayalalithaa
* S. R. Eradha
* K. Anbazhagan
* O. Panneerselvam
* Vijayakant
* M. K. Stalin
* Edappadi K. Palaniswami

* * *

* Leaders of the opposition in the Puducherry Legislative Assembly

* P. K. Loganathan
* V. M. C. V. Ganapathy
* R. V. Janakiraman
* A. M. H. Nazeem
* R. Siva

* * *

* Deputy leaders of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly

* K. Anbazhagan
* Su. Thirunavukkarasar
* Duraimurugan
* K. A. Sengottaiyan
* O. Panneerselvam
* Panruti S. Ramachandran
* Alagaapuram R. Mohanraj
* R. B. Udhayakumar

Others

* Pioneers

* C. Iyothee Thass
* R. Srinivasan
* C. Natesan
* Maraimalai Adigal
* P. Theagarayar
* T. M. Nair
* E. V. Ramasami

* * *

* Various topics

* Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu
* Cinema in Dravidian politics
* Dravidar Kazhagam
* Dravidian movement
* Dravidianism
* Rise of Dravidian parties
* Self-Respect Movement

The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (transl. Renaissance Dravidian Progressive Federation; abbr. MDMK) is a political party active in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It was established by Vaiko in 1994 after he left the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The headquarters of the party is called Thayagam, which is located at Rukmini Lakshmipathi Salai, Egmore, Chennai.

## History

[edit]

### Formation

[edit]

Vaiko was a member of Rajya Sabha and a party activist of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Vaiko was a member of the party from his initial student days and actively participated in the party agitations and courted imprisonment several times. He was elected thrice to the Rajya Sabha. In 1994, he was forced out of the parent body as he was seen as a threat to DMK chief Karunanidhi's son, M.K. Stalin. Vaiko along with some district secretaries announced the decision to start a rival party, which became the MDMK.

### Support for Sri Lankan Tamils

[edit]

Vaiko voiced support for Tamils during the Sri Lankan Civil War, including for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam specifically and their goal of secession from Sri Lanka.

### Support for the Mullaperiyar Dam

[edit]

The Government of Kerala was keen to demolish the Mullaperiyar Dam because of safety concerns. However, the dam's reservoir is a prime source for irrigation for more than 8 districts including Theni. As a result, Vaiko led an agitation against the Kerala government.

### Split in MDMK

[edit]

With the looming possibility of a vote of confidence in Parliament against the UPA, two party MPs, L. Ganesan and Gingee N. Ramachandran, claimed that they enjoyed the support of the majority of party cadre and decided to pledge support to the UPA government. They later withdrew their claim and joined DMK when it was found that they had forged letters of support of party executives.[3]

### Boycott of Assembly Election 2011

[edit]

Due to issues in seat sharing, MDMK quit the ADMK Alliance and boycotted the 2011 Assembly elections of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

### Sanchi Protest

[edit]

The MDMK protested the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit to Sanchi, Madhya Pradesh in September 2012. Vaiko and his party members traveled to Sanchi. People who traveled through roadways were stopped by the police near Gadchiroli. Some party members tried to reach the spot by rail and air but they were detained by police before reaching Sanchi.[4]

### MDMK snap ties with NDA

[edit]

The MDMK left the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance in December 2014, accusing the BJP of acting against Tamil interests. This came after heavy criticism of the party from BJP lawmaker Subramanian Swamy.[5]

## Party flag and symbol

[edit]

The election symbol is a match box. The colour of the party flag's top and bottom panel is red and middle panel is black. The party has a weekly journal called Sangoli which carries news and write ups for party workers.[6] In 2024 Parliament Election, the eci allotted Matchbox with stick symbol for contesting in Trichy.

## Election history

[edit]

Lok Sabha election  Election Year  | Election  | Votes polled  | Won  | Change of Seats  | Alliance  | Result

|
|
|
|
|
|

1996  | 11th Lok Sabha | 552,118  |

0 / 15

| No Change  | MDMK-CPI(M) | Lost
1998  | 12th Lok Sabha | 1,602,504  |

3 / 5

| 3  | NDA | Government
1999  | 13th Lok Sabha | 1,620,527  |

4 / 5

| 1  | NDA | Government
2004  | 14th Lok Sabha | 1,679,870  |

4 / 4

| No Change  | DPA | Government
2009  | 15th Lok Sabha | 1,112,908  |

1 / 4

| 3  | TF | Opposition
2014  | 16th Lok Sabha | 1,417,535  |

0 / 7

| 1  | NDA | Lost
2019  | 17th Lok Sabha | 563,591  |

1 / 1

| 1  | UPA | Opposition
2024  | 18th Lok Sabha | 5,42,213  |

1 / 1

| 1  | INDIA | Opposition

### Tamil Nadu

[edit]

Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly  Election Year  | Election  | Votes polled  | Won  | Change of Seats  | Alliance  | Result

|
|
|
|
|
|

1996  | 11th Assembly | 1,569,168  |

0 / 177

| No Change  | MDMK+ alliance  | Lost
2001  | 12th Assembly | 1,304,469  |

0 / 213

| 213  | MDMK+  | Lost
2006  | 13th Assembly | 1,971,565  |

6 / 35

|  6  | AIADMK Front | Lost
2016  | 15th Assembly | 2,300,775  |

0 / 29

|  6  | PWF | Lost
2021  | 16th Assembly | 4,86,976  |

4 / 6

|  4  | SPA+ | Won

## List of Union Ministers

[edit]

No.  | Portrait  | Portfolio  | Name
(Birth–Death) | Term in office  | Constituency
(House) | Prime Minister

|
|
|
|
|
|

Assumed office  | Left office  | Time in office
1  |  | Minister of Non-Conventional Energy Sources
[MoS(I/C)] | M. Kannappan
(–) | 13 October
1999  | 30 December
2003  | 4 years, 78 days | Tiruchengode
(Lok Sabha) | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
2  |  | Minister of Textiles
[MoS] | Gingee N. Ramachandran
(born 1944) | 13 October
1999  | 30 September
2000  | 353 days | Tindivanam
(Lok Sabha)
Minister of Finance
[MoS] | 30 September
2000  | 1 July
2002  | 1 year, 274 days
Minister of Finance & Company Affairs
[MoS] | 1 July
2002  | 24 May
2003  | 326 days
Minister of Textiles
[MoS] | 8 September
2003  | 30 December
2003  | 113 days

## See also

[edit]

* List of political parties in India

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Ogden, Chris (20 June 2019). A Dictionary of Politics and International Relations in India. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-253915-1. "Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Tamil: 'Renaissance Dravidian Progress Federation') A political party. It was established in 1994..."
2. ^ "List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18.01.2013" (PDF). India: Election Commission of India. 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
3. ^ "Indian Prez summons PM: Trust vote likely on July 21 or 22, Singh garners enough votes - Asian Tribune". Retrieved 16 July 2016.
4. ^ "Despite heavy security, MDMK men sneak in Bhopal ahead of Mahinda Rajapaksa's visit". The Economic Times. PTI. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
5. ^ "Vaiko's MDMK snaps ties with NDA, hits out at Modi govt". The Times of India. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2016.
6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2009. Retrieved 5 June 2007.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

## External links

[edit]

* Official Website of the party
* MDMK profile listed in Library of congress

* v
* t
* e

Dravidian politics

Political parties|

* Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
* All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
* Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
* Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam

Union cabinet ministers|

* Sathiavani Muthu
* Aravinda Bala Pajanor
* Murasoli Maran
* T. G. Venkatraman
* Sedapatti R. Muthiah
* M. Thambidurai
* T. R. Baalu
* A. Raja
* Dayanidhi Maran
* M. K. Alagiri

Chief ministers|

* C. N. Annadurai
* V. R. Nedunchezhiyan
* M. Karunanidhi
* M. O. H. Farook
* S. Ramassamy
* M. G. Ramachandran
* M. D. R. Ramachandran
* V. N. Janaki Ramachandran
* J. Jayalalithaa
* R. V. Janakiraman
* O. Panneerselvam
* Edappadi K. Palaniswami
* M. K. Stalin

Deputy chief ministers|

* M. K. Stalin
* O. Panneerselvam
* Udhayanidhi Stalin

Deputy speakers of the Lok Sabha|

* G. Lakshmanan
* M. Thambidurai

Union ministers of state|

* N. V. N. Somu
* T. R. Baalu
* R. K. Kumar
* Kadambur M. R. Janarthanan
* M. Kannappan
* Gingee N. Ramachandran
* A. Raja
* K. Venkatapathy
* Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan
* S. Regupathy
* S. S. Palanimanickam
* V. Radhika Selvi
* S. Jagathrakshakan
* S. Gandhiselvan
* D. Nepoleon

Speakers of the legislative assembly|

* Si. Pa. Adithanar
* Pulavar K. Govindan
* S. Perumal
* K. A. Mathiazhagan
* S. Pakkiam
* Munu Adhi
* K. Rajaram
* P. H. Pandian
* M. Tamilkudimagan
* G. Palaniraja
* Sedapatti R. Muthiah
* P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan
* V. M. C. Sivakumar
* K. Kalimuthu
* R. Avudaiyappan
* D. Jayakumar
* P. Dhanapal
* M. Appavu

Deputy speakers of the legislative assembly|

* Pulavar K. Govindan
* G. R. Edmund
* P. Seenivasan
* N. Ganapathy
* Su. Thirunavukkarasar
* P. H. Pandian
* V. P. Balasubramanian
* V. P. Duraisamy
* K. Ponnusamy
* S. Gandhirajan
* Parithi Ilamvazhuthi
* A. Arunachalam
* P. Dhanapal
* Pollachi V. Jayaraman
* K. Pitchandi

Leaders of the house|

* V. R. Nedunchezhiyan
* M. Karunanidhi
* M. O. H. Farook
* S. Ramassamy
* Nanjil K. Manoharan
* M. D. R. Ramachandran
* R. M. Veerappan
* K. Anbazhagan
* R. V. Janakiraman
* C. Ponnaiyan
* O. Panneerselvam
* Natham R. Viswanathan
* K. A. Sengottaiyan
* Duraimurugan

Leaders of the opposition|

* V. R. Nedunchezhiyan
* M. Karunanidhi
* P. K. Loganathan
* J. Jayalalithaa
* S. R. Eradha
* V. M. C. V. Ganapathy
* R. V. Janakiraman
* K. Anbazhagan
* O. Panneerselvam
* A. M. H. Nazeem
* Vijayakant
* M. K. Stalin
* R. Siva
* Edappadi K. Palaniswami

Deputy leaders of the opposition|

* M. Karunanidhi
* K. Anbazhagan
* Su. Thirunavukkarasar
* K. A. Sengottaiyan
* Duraimurugan
* O. Panneerselvam
* Panruti S. Ramachandran
* Alagaapuram R. Mohanraj
* R. B. Udhayakumar

Others|

* Anti-Hindi agitations of Tamil Nadu
* Cinema in Dravidian politics
* Dravidar Kazhagam
* Dravidian movement
* Dravidianism
* Rise of Dravidian parties
* Self-Respect Movement

* v
* t
* e

Political parties in India

National parties|

* Aam Aadmi Party
* Bahujan Samaj Party
* Bharatiya Janata Party
* Communist Party of India (Marxist)
* Indian National Congress
* National People's Party

State parties|

* AJSU Party
* All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
* All India Forward Bloc
* All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen
* All India N.R. Congress
* All India United Democratic Front
* Apna Dal (Soneylal)
* Asom Gana Parishad
* Bharat Rashtra Samithi
* Biju Janata Dal
* Bodoland People's Front
* Communist Party of India
* Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation
* Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam
* Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
* Goa Forward Party
* Hill State People's Democratic Party
* Indian National Lok Dal
* Indian Union Muslim League
* Indigenous People's Front of Tripura
* Jammu and Kashmir National Conference
* Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party
* Janasena Party
* Janata Dal (Secular)
* Janata Dal (United)
* Jannayak Janta Party
* Janta Congress Chhattisgarh (J)
* Jharkhand Mukti Morcha
* Kerala Congress (M)
* Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas)
* Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
* Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party
* Mizo National Front
* Naam Tamilar Katchi
* Naga People's Front
* Nationalist Congress Party
* Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar
* Nationalist Democratic Progressive Party
* People's Party of Arunachal
* People's Democratic Front
* Rashtriya Janata Dal
* Rashtriya Lok Janshakti Party
* Rashtriya Lok Samta Party
* Rashtriya Loktantrik Party
* Revolutionary Goans Party
* Revolutionary Socialist Party
* Samajwadi Party
* Shiromani Akali Dal
* Shiv Sena
* Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray)
* Sikkim Democratic Front
* Sikkim Krantikari Morcha
* Telugu Desam Party
* Tipra Motha Party
* Trinamool Congress
* United Democratic Party
* United People's Party, Liberal
* Voice of the People Party
* Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
* Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party
* Zoram Nationalist Party
* Zoram People's Movement

Unrecognized
parties|

* Ahila India Naadalum Makkal Katchi
* All India Rajakulathor Peravai
* Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De)
* Ambedkarite Party of India
* Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam
* Gana Suraksha Party
* Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)
* Apna Dal
* Azad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram)
* Bahujan Mukti Party
* Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh
* Bharatiya Tribal Party
* Communist Marxist Party
* Congress (Secular)
* Democratic Azad Party
* Democratic Socialist Party (Prabodh Chandra)
* Desiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi
* Goa Vikas Party
* Gondwana Ganatantra Party
* Gorkha Janmukti Morcha
* Hamro Sikkim Party
* Hindustan Janta Party
* Hindustani Awam Morcha
* Ikkjutt Jammu
* Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi
* Indian National League
* Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party
* Jammu and Kashmir People's Conference
* Jammu and Kashmir Workers Party
* Jan Adhikar Party (Loktantrik)
* Jannayak Janta Party
* Jansatta Dal (Loktantrik)
* Jharkhand Party
* Karnataka Pragnyavantha Janatha Party
* Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement
* Kerala Congress (Balakrishna Pillai)
* Kerala Congress (Jacob)
* Kerala Congress (Thomas)
* Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi
* Lok Insaaf Party
* Loktantrik Janata Dal
* Mahan Dal
* Makkal Needhi Maiam
* Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
* Marxist Co-ordination Committee
* National Secular Conference
* NISHAD Party
* Pattali Makkal Katchi
* Puratchi Bharatham Katchi
* Puthiya Needhi Katchi
* Puthiya Tamilagam
* Raijor Dal
* Rashtriya Lok Morcha
* Rashtriya Samaj Paksha
* Republican Party of India (Athawale)
* Revolutionary Socialist Party of Kerala (Bolshevik)
* Revolutionary Socialist Party (Leninist)
* Samajwadi Janata Party (Rashtriya)
* Shiv Sangram
* Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar)
* Sikkim National People's Party
* Social Democratic Party of India
* Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist)
* Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party
* Swabhimani Paksha
* Swatantra Bharat Paksh
* Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar)
* Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam
* Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam
* Tamizhaga Murpokku Makkal Katchi
* Telangana Jana Samithi
* Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance
* United Goans Democratic Party
* Uttarakhand Kranti Dal
* Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi
* Vikassheel Insaan Party
* Welfare Party of India

*[transl.]: translation
*[MoS(I/C)]: Minister of State (Independent Charge)
*[MoS]: Minister of State
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*[t]: Discuss this template
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