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Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar)

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Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar)
AbbreviationTMC(M)
PresidentG. K. Vasan
General SecretaryVidiyal Sekar
Parliamentary ChairpersonG. K. Vasan
Rajya Sabha LeaderG. K. Vasan
FounderG. K. Moopanar
Founded29 March 1996; 28 years ago (1996-03-29)
Split fromTamil Nadu Congress Committee
Headquarters14, 5th Cross Street, Ellaiamman Colony,
Teynampet, Chennai – 600086, Tamil Nadu, India.
Student wingTMC(M) Student Wing
Youth wingTMC(M) Youth Wing
Women's wingTMC(M) Women's Wing
Labour wingTMC(M) Labour Wing
IdeologyGreen politics
Green conservatism
Political positionCentre-right
Colours  Orange
ECI StatusRegistered Unrecognised State Party[1]
AllianceNDA (2019 - Present)
Seats in Lok Sabha
0 / 543
Seats in Rajya Sabha
1 / 245
Seats in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assemblytamilmaanilacongress.com
Party flag
Website
www.tamilmaanilacongress.com

The Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) (transl. Tamil State Congress (Moopanar); abbr. TMC(M)) is an Indian regional political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. It was founded by the former member of parliament of the Republic of India G. K. Moopanar on 29 March 1996 as a breakaway faction from the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee.[2]

After the death of G. K. Moopanar, the party's officials chose G. K. Vasan, the son of the founder, to lead the party in 2002. The TMC(M) was merged with Indian National Congress from 2002 to 2014. The party was again formed after a split from INC in November 2014.

It is formerly in an alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and is part of the Indian political front, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in 2019.

Party position

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Mission

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"To bring back the ‘Golden Rule’ of K. Kamarajar in the state of Tamil Nadu."[3][4]

The party's mission is to provide:

  • corruption-free public administration;
  • sublime law and order without favouritism or discrimination;
  • liquor-free Tamil Nadu; free, quality education for all;
  • free medical facilities for all;
  • conflict-free religious harmony;
  • caste-free Tamil society;
  • distribution of power to minority, Dalits and tribes;
  • protection of women's rights
  • ensured labour rights;
  • social Justice with opportunity to all;
  • economic development inclusive to all;
  • uninterrupted power supply;
  • regulated water management;
  • profitable agriculture;
  • abundant food supply;
  • pollution-free environment;
  • un-plunder natural resources;
  • industrial development combined with increased job opportunities;
  • decentralization of power to Panchayat Raj.

Ideologies

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Anti-divisive politics

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The party strongly believes the need to realm India's pluralist traditions. G. K Moopanar always maintained to preserve the political decency and avoided a culture of violence and divisive politics. He strongly believed in grassroots democracy with people as the stakeholders in all the developmental projects.[citation needed]

Secularism

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Tamil Maanila Congress (M) is existing in a political era of aggressive and conflict oriented politics. The party and the founder were crowned for taking a principled position in 1999 to reserve its political support to then ruling Union Government by not supporting the BJP.

Symbols

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Flag

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The flag is similar to that of the Indian National Congress party and the Indian National Flag. The colour Orange represents sacrifice, white represents peace and green represents prosperity.[5] The embossed leaders on the party flag are Indian freedom fighter Kamarajar and founding father G K Moopanar.[6]

History

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G. K. Moopanar era (29 March 1996 – 30 August 2001)

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Thiru. G.K. Moopanar
Founder of the party

Following the high command's decision to restore relations with the AIADMK, Moopanar's followers in Congress(I) formed a new party at Thiruparankundram on March 29, 1996.[7] Later, a new regional political party has been formed by Congressmen in the name of Tamil Nadu Makkal Congress, owing to loyalty to G. K. Moopanar on 1 April 1996.[8]

G. K Moopanar was an affable Political Strategist and a Trouble Shooter who never stooped to power rather led a pure and simple life of an ordinary citizen.[9] But there have been an instances, where G. K Moopanar to be crowned for top leadership yet he preferred to identify the leaders for top job and chose to work in strengthening the party.[10] The party born out of historical need to defend the principal system of transparent, clean and civilized politics. Moopanar in the year 1996 sensed the need to formulate a political party, which satisfies the regional aspiration and ethos and formed the Tamil Maanila Congress.[11]

G.K Moopanar was a follower of K. Kamarajar. K. Kamarajar had identified G. K Moopanar as his political heir.[12][13]

In the early 1970s Indira Gandhi wished to integrate both Indian National Congress (O) and Indian National Congress (I) and merged both the parties. Moopanar who was faithful to the parent body was made the president of the Congress party in Tamil Nadu. The dramatic rise and spread of the Dravidian movement in the state shrunk the Congress, once the largest political party in the state.[13][14]

Kamarajar identified Indira Gandhi for the leadership and G. K Moopanar along with other important national leaders identified the then Rajiv Gandhi for the top job.[15]

Moopanar was committed to secularism and cultural pluralism, who completely devoted himself for the service to humanity.[16] In recognizing his contribution to the nation, Indian postal department commemorated him by releasing a stamp in 2010.[17]

In 1998, G K Moopanar's efforts ensured to declared a classical status to Tamil language by then Union Government in the year 2004.[18][19]

In 1999, Moopanar refused to support the BJP-led government's vote of trust in Lok Sabha, which finally caused the collapse of the Vajpayee government due to the lack of just one vote. Moopanar argued that he had committed himself to secular values and would never endorse then BJP, even under pressure from his then major ally, late DMK leader M Karunanidhi. This was especially considering the fact that Moopanar only founded the party to support the DMK in the general elections of 1996.[20]

G.K Vaasan's era (2001- present)

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Merge with Congress

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After the death of his father G K Moopanar in 2001, G. K Vasan was elected without opposition as the President of the TMC by the MLA's, MP's and senior officials of the party.[21] After the death of his father Vaasan merged the TMC with the congress on 14 August 2002.[22][23] The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Congress together secured 163 of the 234 seats in the 2006 Assembly elections.[24]

Further information: Tamil Maanila Kamraj Congress

Split from Congress

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On 3 November 2014, Vaasan split the party from Congress to start the Tamil Manila Congress again.[25] In the 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election he faced a defeat when he contested as part of the People's welfare front.[26]

2019 Indian general elections - National Democratic alliance

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In March 2019, TMC made alliance with the AIADMK in for the 2019 Indian general elections and was allotted one seat in the Thanjavur parliamentary constituency, contesting on the AIADMK symbol.[27] The alliance was also part of the broader alliance with the National Democratic Alliance.[28] A TMC leader said "We are not talking to the BJP; we will be part of the AIADMK alliance,"[29] Vasans move raised concerns when many secularist parties flocked to Congress to overthrow BJP.[20]

Administration and governance

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G. K. Vasan, President of the party

Under the leadership of G. K Vasan, the party is more concerned about the governance becoming mystified and administrations getting complicated. The party believes democracy is a culture and not the elections.

Lokayukta legislation

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The party shall propose the passage of Lokayukta legislation in the state of Tamil Nadu, an establishment of anti-corruption institution to combat corruption in the government administrations.[30]

Live Telecast of Assembly Proceedings

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The party shall take up strong efforts to ‘Live Telecast the Assembly Proceedings’ and practice fair and free conduct of democracy in the floor of assembly house. "Right to Know" is the basic privilege of citizens in this great nation. Therefore, the live telecast is the primary right and it will pave way for educating the citizens to know the process of government, discover the truth and strengthen individual capacity in decision-making process.[3]

Policies

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Agriculture revival

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G. K. Vasan, during his role as member of Consultative Committee for the Ministry of Agriculture between 2002 and 2004, dynamically backed the measures for National Food Security and building a Vibrant Rural Economy.[31] In the recent protest by Tamil Nadu farmers in Jantar Mantar, New Delhi (between April–May 2017), which lasted for 41 days. G. K Vasan, himself a farmer took a leadership initiative to facilitate a meeting between agitating farmers and President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee.[32][33]

Women's empowerment

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The party strongly advocates the Women Reservation Bill. Vasan constantly bid for true gender equality. He believes a true change in women political representation is not by a woman from the traditional political base, rather from a village who is honest, sincere, committed and a woman rising from the grassroots to the democratic house, is the candid success.

The party's women's wing is striving to realize the goals; it has put forth.

  • Goal 1. Respectable representation of women in social, economic and political systems.
  • Goal 2. Equal pay for equal work on par with men.
  • Goal 3. An end to Modern slavery – all kinds of violence against women and children.

Prohibition of alcohol

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The party asserts prohibition of alcohol is the need of the hour and concerned over the present level of alcohol consumption among all sections of people including women and students. The president of the party Vasan strongly believes that state sponsored alcohol is not a revenue generator, but rather a social disaster.[34] In action, the party has effectively demonstrated various campaigns, agitations and personal suit to put an end to alcoholism in the state.[35] In one such effort, the party launched a statewide signature campaign in 2015 to create an awareness among the citizens and exert pressure on ruling government to abolish Alcoholism.[36] The party submitted the public receipts with a memorandum to then Hon. Governor Rosaiah, urging a statewide prohibition of Alcohol.[37]

The party also opined to administrators to set up a rehabilitation centers for the citizens' welfare and facilitate alternative employment for the existing TASMAC employees without derailing their livelihood.The party has considered prohibition of alcohol as its one of its mission statements.

Welfare of fishermen

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The party president, Vasan, Within 72 hours of party revival in 2014, visited Rameswaram to interact with the fishermen community and extend his support to them.[38][39][40][41] The party feels the amicable solution to prevailing watershed can be a ‘bottoms-up approach’ in a way based on cultural, economic habits and needs of participating people from either nation. There is a historical connectivity among both citizens and one cannot lightly impose a nautical barrier and exert navy force. The party strongly believes an independent Union Ministry of Fisheries is required to address the present day challenges in a diplomatic, economic and technological framework.

Intraparty democracy

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The Tamil Maanila Congress (M) is a grassroots pluralistic party which maintains intraparty democracy, a consensual approach to decision making; self-respect and gender equality. The party strongly believes in accommodating all sections of people in mainstream politics and confer not only reservation but due recognition, a respectable relationship across all human spectrum.[citation needed]

Support for Sri Lankan Tamils

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G. K Vasan had also raised his objections and extended kindness for the welfare of Tamils in Sri Lanka and living elsewhere.[42] In spite of His association with then ruling party, the Indian National Congress (in UPA regime) and holding a ministerial rank in the Union Government; He opposed the moves, the Government of India had extended to Sri Lankan government that deemed to be against the interests of island's Tamil citizens.[43][44][45]

Outreaches

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The party has launched the 'e-kamarajar app' for the benefit of primary school children to bridge the gap in education affordability, provide free accessibility to latest educational contents, learning methods and improve the primary school completion ratio. The application is designed to provide fundamentals in Mathematics, English, Tamil and Brain Gym activities.[46]

Vasan as Union Minister of Shipping in 2014 commemorated the freedom fighters, K. Kamaraj and V. O. Chidambaram Pillai by renaming the Ennore Port as Kamarajar Port Limited in Chennai, Tamil Nadu[47] and Tuticorin Port Trust as V.O. Chidambaranar Port Trust in Thoothukkudi, Tamil Nadu.[48]

Election performance

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Year Election No. of Votes Secured No. of Constituency Contested No. of Constituency Won
1996 11th Tamil Nadu Assembly 2,526,474 40 39
2001 12th Tamil Nadu Assembly 1,885,726 32 23
2016 15th Tamil Nadu Assembly 230,711 26 0
2021 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election 295,016 (Under AIADMK symbol) 6 0
Year Election No. of Votes Secured No. of Constituency Contested No. of Constituency Won
1996 11th Lok Sabha 7,339,982 20 20
1998 12th Lok Sabha 5,169,183 20 3
1999 13th Lok Sabha 1,946,899 39 0
2019 17th Lok Sabha 220,849 1 0
2024 18th Lok Sabha 410,401 3 0

The party, Tamil Maanila Congress (M) in its debut election in 1996 to 11th Tamil Nadu State Legislative Assembly, contested in 41 constituencies along with its ally political partners. The grand ally recorded a splendid victory by securing 231 of total 234 assembly constituencies and formed the 11th Tamil Nadu State Legislative Government.[49] The party, Tamil Maanila Congress also secured an impressive election performance and emerged as the principal opposition party in the assembly house. The party secured 39 legislative assembly constituencies out of 40 constituencies it contested and secured 2,526,474 votes.[50] The party chose the bicycle as its election symbol.

The 11th Tamil Nadu state legislative assembly elections were held simultaneously with the Indian Parliamentary Election to 11th Lok Sabha. Tamil Maanila Congress along with its ally political partners, again performed a landslide victory by winning the complete 39 parliamentary seats available in the state, Tamil Nadu. The party led in front by winning 20 out of 20 contested parliamentary seats by securing 7,339,982 (25.6%) votes.[citation needed]

Further, the party did not participate in the election to 13th and 14th Tamil Nadu state legislative assembly and in 14th and 16th Lok Sabha General Elections.[citation needed]

In the latest election to 15th Tamil Nadu State Assembly, the party participated together in an alliance PWF(People Welfare Front) and contested the election. The party was allotted 'Coconut Farm'[citation needed] as its election symbol and fielded 26 candidates, none of whom were elected.[51][52]

List of party leaders

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Presidents

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term in office
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 G. K. Moopanar
(1931–2001) 		29 March 1996 30 August 2001 5 years, 154 days
2 G. K. Vasan
(1964–) 		1 September 2001 15 August 2002 348 days
24 April 2015 Incumbent 9 years, 247 days

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "TMC(M) State Registered Political Party" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Latest Volume18-Issue19 News, Photos, Latest News Headlines about Volume18-Issue19". Frontline.
  3. ^ a b "Vision". Tamil Maanila Congress.
  4. ^ "தமாகா". 28 July 2017. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  5. ^ "Vasan unveils party flag sporting images of Kamaraj, Moopanar | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. 26 November 2014.
  6. ^ "GK Vasan unveils flag of his new party in Chennai". Livemint. 26 November 2014.
  7. ^ Staff Reporter (3 November 2014). "Moopanar supporters float new party". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X.
  8. ^ "New party formed". The Hindu. 3 November 2014. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  9. ^ "The gentleman 'kingmaker'". @businessline. 4 September 2001.
  10. ^ Bureau, Our Tamil Nadu (31 August 2001). "G.K. Moopanar passes away". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com. {{cite news}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  11. ^ "EC recognises Moopanar party". The Hindu. 3 November 2014. ISSN 0971-751X.
  12. ^ karthikeyan, k (13 July 2015). "Parties chase Kamaraj legacy". Deccan Chronicle.
  13. ^ a b "Rediff On The NeT: Shobha Warrier profiles G K Moopanar, who lost out to I K Gujral in the race for the prime ministership". www.rediff.com.
  14. ^ "Pranab Mukherjee recalls how Rajiv Gandhi became PM after Indira's death". Hindustan Times. 28 January 2016.
  15. ^ "Kamarajar chose Prime Minister Inidra Gandhi".
  16. ^ Annamalai, S. (3 November 2014). "TMC determined to carry on Moopanar legacy". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X.
  17. ^ "Postage Stamps:: Postage Stamps, Stamp issue calendar 2014, Paper postage, Commemorative and definitive stamps, Service Postage Stamps, Philately Offices, Philatelic Bureaux and counters, Mint stamps (unused stamps)". postagestamps.gov.in.
  18. ^ Ahuja, M. L. (22 May 1998). Electoral Politics and General Elections in India, 1952-1998. Mittal Publications. ISBN 9788170997115 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ Schiffman, Harold F. (20 September 2004). "Tamil Declared as "Classical Language" in India".
  20. ^ a b "Is Tamil Maanila Congress deviating from core values of Moopanar?". The New Indian Express. 11 March 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  21. ^ Vydhianathan, S. (3 November 2014). "G.K. Vasan unanimously elected". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  22. ^ "Vasan Floats New Party, Mounts Scathing Attack on Congress". www.outlookindia.com. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  23. ^ Annamalai, S. (3 November 2014). "TMC determined to carry on Moopanar legacy". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  24. ^ Radhakrishnan, R. K. (18 April 2016). "Tamil Nadu's Experiments with Electoral Alliances". The Hindu Center. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  25. ^ "Safe travels and holidaying in a post-Covid world - [Partnered]". scroll.in. 10 June 2020. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  26. ^ Vasudevan, Lokpria (13 March 2019). "20-20 deal for AIADMK & allies, TMC allotted one seat in Tamil Nadu". India Today. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  27. ^ "TMC's stance is as per Tamil people: GK Vasan justifies alliance with AIADMK-BJP". www.thenewsminute.com. 14 March 2019.
  28. ^ "Alliance partners from T.N. to attend NDA meet". The Hindu. 21 May 2019. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  29. ^ "AIADMK and BJP to stitch up pre-poll alliance to take on DMK in TN". The Federal. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  30. ^ "G K Vasan elected chief of Tamil Maanila Congress". The Economic Times. 24 April 2015.
  31. ^ "Member of Consultative Committee".
  32. ^ "Tamil Nadu farmer protest: 9 antics used to grab attention of PM Narendra Modi and the media". India Today. 25 April 2017.
  33. ^ "Vasan meets President over farmers' stir". The Hindu. 29 March 2017 – via www.thehindu.com.
  34. ^ "Vasan advocates curbs on sale of liquor in State". The Hindu. 18 August 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  35. ^ "Now TMC(M) leader Vasan bats for prohibition in TN".
  36. ^ "TMC undertakes signature campaign for prohibition". The Hindu. 12 August 2015 – via www.thehindu.com.
  37. ^ "TMC launches signature campaign for prohibition". The Hindu. 3 September 2015 – via www.thehindu.com.
  38. ^ "BJP failed to protect fishermen: Vasan". The Hindu. 8 November 2014 – via www.thehindu.com.
  39. ^ "G.K.Vasan urges to release Tamil Nadu fishermen".
  40. ^ "Tamil Nadu Fisherman's Killing: Sri Lankan Navy Has Promised Probe". NDTV.com.
  41. ^ Staff Reporter (9 March 2015). "Give fishermen row top priority". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  42. ^ "Vasan Appreciates Cameron's Efforts on Ethnic Tamils". outlookindia.com.
  43. ^ "Vasan Against Selling Warship to Sri Lanka". outlookindia.com.
  44. ^ "Vasan Meets PM, Presses for Boycott of CHOGM Summit". outlookindia.com.
  45. ^ Kolappan, B. (1 September 2012). "Vasan voices objection to training of Sri Lankan officers". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
  46. ^ "e-Kamarajar App for primary schoolchildren". The Hindu. 23 December 2015 – via www.thehindu.com.
  47. ^ ""Renaming port after Kamarajar a fitting tribute to former CM"". The Hindu. 2 March 2014 – via www.thehindu.com.
  48. ^ "Renaming Tuticorin port after V.O Chidambaranar".
  49. ^ "Debut Election 1996".
  50. ^ NIRUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN G. C. SHEKHAR (31 May 1996). "Elections 1996: AIADMK citadel crumbles as DMK-TMC alliance sweeps to power in Tamil Nadu". India Today.
  51. ^ "Tamil Nadu election: Tamil Maanila Congress releases candidates list". The Times of India. 19 April 2016. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  52. ^ "Youth Are Behind People's Welfare Front In Tamil Nadu, Says GK Vasan". NDTV.com.
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