History
PMK was founded by Dr. S. Ramdoss and the state president is G. K. Mani. Ramdoss had earlier worked with the Vanniyar Sangham (Vanniyar Union) founded by him in 1980. PMK is based amongst the Most High Class Vanniyakula Kshatriyas community. PMK has advocated the bifurcation of the state of Tamil Nadu, a proposal that was seen as a casteist line as PMK is stronger in the northern half of the TN State where it commands 50% of the vote bank namely the Vanniyars.
Ahead of the 2004 election PMK joined the broad Tamil political front Democratic Progressive Alliance where also Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Indian National Congress, Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Indian Union Muslim League are members.
After the formation of PMK, and under the leadership of Ramadoss, PMK was able to obtain a significant share of power both in the regional government in Tamil Nadu and the central government, primarily due to coalition pressures and arm twisting tactics. Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, the son of S. Ramadoss, was the member of Rajya Sabha in the government of India. Following the 2004 general election Lok Sabha elections, PMK joined United Progressive Alliance party.
The PMK Ministers contributed to the improvement of Railway network in Tamil Nadu after Independence. The contribution of Dr. Anbumani as the Health Minister, improvement of Primary Health services in India, including 108 Ambulance Service. PMK contributed for the reservation for OBCs in Higher educational Institutions like IITs, IIMs, AIMS etc.. because their vote bank i.e. the vanniyars belong to the OBC. PMK is also fighting for preserving traditional Agriculture to protect the environment, Food Health, Nutrition etc.. PMK is fighting for removal of Alcohol sale in TAMIL NADU. But for the major social causes like the alcohol and at least posturing for preserving traditional Agriculture.
In June 2008, Climaxing months of bitter relationship between DMK and PMK, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu severed its ties with the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), an outside supporter of the Karunanidhi government. However, the DMK did not press for the party's removal from the UPA government at the Centre.
On 26 March 2009 PMK declared that it would join the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) led front and left the United Progressive Alliance (UPA). Following this alliance the two ministers in union cabinet Mr. A. Ramadoss and R. Velu resigned from the UPA government. On 28 March 2009 they submitted the resignation to prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and suffered a complete wipe out because of their constant shifting of alliances between the two dravidian parties.
Mr.AK. Moorthy the first candidate of PMK also a minister of state for railways in the Government of India
Read more about this topic: Pattali Makkal Katchi
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