DMK plans to contest in local body polls in Idukki

After the Tamil Nadu-based political party Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), the State’s ruling party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is trying to expand its political base in Idukki.

The DMK also has plans to contest in the local body elections in the district and has signalled that it will contest independently.

According to DMK Idukki district secretary K.K. Janardhanan, the party has already opened two offices, at Munnar and Upputhara, in the district. “The party will contest in maximum number of seats possible in the upcoming local body elections in the Tamil-populated plantation areas. The party will contest in its official symbol,” said Mr. Janardhanan.

In the plantation areas of Devikulam, Udumbanchola and Peerumade taluks, Tamil voters form a majority in several wards. “Only if Tamil Nadu-based parties come to power in the local bodies, the living conditions of plantation workers could be improved,” said Mr. Janardhanan.

According to leaders, the VCK will also be in the fray. Both the parties are pinning their electoral hopes on the sizeable Tamil population in the three taluks.

VCK Kerala spokesperson Riswan Koya K.S. stated that the party has already opened its office for the Peerumade Assembly constituency at Vandiperiyar. “The VCK has finalised candidates in the Tamil-populated wards of Vandiperiyar, Peerumade, Elappara, and Kumily panchayats as well as Vandiperiyar block panchayat. The party is eyeing the Tamil and Dalit votes from the plantation sector,” said Mr. Koya.

In 2019, Praveena S. of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), another political party from Tamil Nadu, representing the Memala ward was elected president of the Peerumade grama panchayat with the support of the United Democratic Front (UDF). But the party could not repeat its success in subsequent elections.

According to sources, the Tamil Nadu-based political parties are highlighting the crisis in the plantation sector and the poor living conditions of Tamil-origin workers. Another issue they raise is the denial of caste certificates to the Tamil community.

Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) general secretary Ibrahimkutty Kallar said that the Congress had noticed the entry of Tamil Nadu-based political parties into the plantation sector in Kerala. “The DMK and VCK are members of the INDIA alliance. We will submit a letter to All India Congress Committee general secretary K.C. Venugopal requesting him to intervene in the issue. The Congress will also explore the possibility of entering into alliance with the parties in the local body election,” said Mr. Kallar.