Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam
Encyclopedia
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) ( meaning National Progressive Dravidian Federation) is a regional political party formed by Tamil film actor
Vijayakanth in the India
n state of Tamil Nadu
along the lines of the regional Dravidian political parties. He formally announced party formation on September 14, 2005 at Madurai
. The party head office is in Koyambedu, Chennai
.
This party contested in all 234 seats in the state elections
in May 2006 with Vijayakanth contesting in Vridhachalam
. The party polled almost 3 million votes (about 10% share). All the candidates of the DMDK with the exception of Vijayakanth lost the elections in 2006. In by-elections to Madurai Central assembly constituency DMDK secured around 17000 votes which is 2000 votes less than All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
(ADMK). DMDK was also able to secure a large number of seats in Local Body elections. Vijaykanth and his party contested in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls as an independent party in all 39 constituencies in the state, winning no seats. The party won 29 seats in the 2011 assembly election and became the official opposition party with Vijayakanth as the opposition leader.
in the 15th Lok Sabha
election and lost all of them. The party, however, made strong inroads in the heartland of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK). The party polled 30.73 lakh votes of the total of 3.02 crore valid votes polled in the state representing roughly a vote share of 10.09%. This is higher than the 8.38% vote share polled by him during the 2006 assembly election. It polled more than one lakh votes in nine constituencies, more than 75,000 in 19 constituencies and more than 50,000 in 35 constituencines including Pondicherry
.
Though his party did not win any seat, it appears to have made the difference between winning and losing for several candidates by having a vote share larger than the margin of victory. Except S. Austin in Kanyakumari
and K. Pandiarajan in Virudhunagar
constituency, none of the other candidates had a standing of their own and observers believe the votes polled by him indicate the public support for his candidacy.
2011 election. In an effort — claimed by the party — to defeat the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
, it allied with Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam front in a decision made on February 25, 2011. It won 29 of the 41 seats contested making it a second largest party in Tamilnadu next only to its ally ADMK pushing DMK to third position. Thus, the party became the official opposition party with Vijayakanh becoming the opposition leader. The large victory also earned recognition and a permanent election symbol from the election commission .
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
Vijayakanth in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
along the lines of the regional Dravidian political parties. He formally announced party formation on September 14, 2005 at Madurai
Madurai
Madurai is the third largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. It served as the capital city of the Pandyan Kingdom. It is the administrative headquarters of Madurai District and is famous for its temples built by Pandyan and...
. The party head office is in Koyambedu, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
.
This party contested in all 234 seats in the state elections
Tamil Nadu state assembly election, 2006
The thirteenth legislative assembly election, of Tamil Nadu was held on May 8, 2006. It was held for all 234 constituencies to elect the government in the state of for the following five years. The votes were counted three days later on May 11, 2006 and all the results were out by the end of the day...
in May 2006 with Vijayakanth contesting in Vridhachalam
Vridhachalam (State Assembly Constituency)
Vridhachalam is a legislative assembly constituency in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Before 2009, it was part of the Chidambaram . After 2009, it is part of Cuddalore...
. The party polled almost 3 million votes (about 10% share). All the candidates of the DMDK with the exception of Vijayakanth lost the elections in 2006. In by-elections to Madurai Central assembly constituency DMDK secured around 17000 votes which is 2000 votes less than All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a state political party in the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, India. The party was founded by M. G. Ramachandran and is now headed by J. Jayalalithaa. The party headquarters is in Royapettah, Chennai, and was gifted to the party in 1986 by its...
(ADMK). DMDK was also able to secure a large number of seats in Local Body elections. Vijaykanth and his party contested in the 2009 Lok Sabha polls as an independent party in all 39 constituencies in the state, winning no seats. The party won 29 seats in the 2011 assembly election and became the official opposition party with Vijayakanth as the opposition leader.
Electoral performance
| Year | General Election | Votes Polled | Seats Won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 13th Assembly | 2,764,223 | 1 |
| 2009 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu, 2009 The Indian general election, 2009 polls in Tamil Nadu was held for 39 seats in the state. There was a radical change in the alliances in this election compared to the last election, reminiscent of the 1999 election in Tamil Nadu... |
15th Lok Sabha | 3,073,479 | 0 |
| 2011 Tamil Nadu legislative assembly election, 2011 The fourteenth legislative assembly election was held on 13 April 2011 to elect members from 234 constituencies in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Results were released on 13 May 2011... |
14th Assembly | 2,902,813 | 29 |
2009 Lok Sabha Election
DMDK contested all 39 seats independently in Tamil NaduTamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
in the 15th Lok Sabha
15th Lok Sabha
Members of the 15th Lok Sabha were elected in 2009 during the General Elections in India.- Important members :* Speaker: Meira Kumar, Indian National Congress, Sasaram, Bihar...
election and lost all of them. The party, however, made strong inroads in the heartland of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK). The party polled 30.73 lakh votes of the total of 3.02 crore valid votes polled in the state representing roughly a vote share of 10.09%. This is higher than the 8.38% vote share polled by him during the 2006 assembly election. It polled more than one lakh votes in nine constituencies, more than 75,000 in 19 constituencies and more than 50,000 in 35 constituencines including Pondicherry
Pondicherry (Lok Sabha Constituency)
FOR 2011 :Mr.N.Rangasamy has won for his N.R congress.The beauty is he has started this new party jest 2 months before the election.He was resigned from congress,started new one called N.R congress,won the election and became Central minster of pondicherry again for 2 nd time. The Lok Sabha...
.
Though his party did not win any seat, it appears to have made the difference between winning and losing for several candidates by having a vote share larger than the margin of victory. Except S. Austin in Kanyakumari
Kanyakumari (Lok Sabha constituency)
Kanniyakumari Lok Sabha constituency is one of the 39 Lok Sabha constituencies in Tamil Nadu state in southern India. It was formed after the delimitation in 2008 by merging Kanyakumari assembly segment from the erstwhile Tiruchendur constituency with the erstwhile Nagercoil constituency.-Assembly...
and K. Pandiarajan in Virudhunagar
Virudhunagar (Lok Sabha constituency)
Virudhunagar is a Lok Sabha constituency in Tamil Nadu. Originally Sivakasi, it was converted into Virudhunagar after the 2008 delimitation.- Assembly segments :Virudhunagar constituency was formed in 2008...
constituency, none of the other candidates had a standing of their own and observers believe the votes polled by him indicate the public support for his candidacy.
2011 assembly election
DMDK had remained unaligned and contested all the previous elections independently until2011 election. In an effort — claimed by the party — to defeat the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is a state political party in the states of Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry, India. It is a Dravidian party founded by C. N. Annadurai as a breakaway faction from the Dravidar Kazhagam headed by Periyar...
, it allied with Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam front in a decision made on February 25, 2011. It won 29 of the 41 seats contested making it a second largest party in Tamilnadu next only to its ally ADMK pushing DMK to third position. Thus, the party became the official opposition party with Vijayakanh becoming the opposition leader. The large victory also earned recognition and a permanent election symbol from the election commission .