Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Infobox Indian Political Party
|party_name = Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam
|party_logo =
|leader = Best .S.Ramasamy Gounder
|foundation = 2001
|ideology = Indigenism
Social conservatism
|position = Centre-right
|headquarters = Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
|colorcode = {{party color|Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam}}
|website = https://www.kongunadumunnetrakazhagam.com/
|party_flag = 200px
|alliance= DPA (2011,2014-2019)
BJP+ (2011)
AIADMK+ (2019-present)
|eci=registered Unrecognised Party}}
Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam (KMK) is a caste based political party representing the Kongu Vellala Gounders, a backward caste in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The party's vote base is mainly concentrated in the Kongu Nadu region of Tamil Nadu.{{Cite journal|last1=VIJAYABASKAR|first1=M|last2=WYATT|first2=ANDREW|date=2013|title=Economic Change, Politics and Caste: The Case of the Kongu Nadu Munnetra Kazhagam|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23528935|journal=Economic and Political Weekly|volume=48|issue=48|pages=103–111|jstor=23528935|issn=0012-9976}}
Origins and platform
The party launched in the name of "Kongunadu Munnetra Peravai" but later its leaders adopted the already registered name of "Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam". It was launched in 2009 at Coimbatore by the Kongu Vellala Goundergal Peravai, a Gounder caste organisation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dinamalar.com/Political_detail.asp?news_id=7103|title=Latest Tamilnadu, Indian Political News, Headlines, Information Online|website=Dinamalar}} Although the party was launched by a Gounder organisation,{{Cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/10/stories/2009041055640700.htm|title=The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : Beginning with message of conservation|date=8 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108111628/http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/10/stories/2009041055640700.htm|archive-date=8 November 2012}} the party's founder Best Ramasamy dismissed that the party was only for the cause of Kongu Velala Gounders and said that his party will work for the cause of the western Tamil Nadu.{{Cite web|url=http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/29/stories/2009042959840300.htm|title=The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Coimbatore News : KMP to work for progressive Western Tamil Nadu|date=8 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108111647/http://www.hindu.com/2009/04/29/stories/2009042959840300.htm|archive-date=8 November 2012}} The party also claims that it will work for development of the Kongu region.{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/meet-best-ramasamy-from-tirupur-tamil-nadus-new-political-entrepreneur/|title=Meet 'Best' Ramasamy from Tirupur, Tamil Nadu's new political entrepreneur|date=7 May 2009}}
2009 Lok Sabha election
The party contested in 12 constituencies independently (without alliance) in 2009 lokshaba elections and polled around 6 lakhs (600,000) votes in the Kongu region.{{Cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Gounder-consolidation-could-pose-headache-to-major-parties/articleshow/4557663.cms|title=Gounder consolidation could pose headache to major parties - Times Of India|date=4 November 2012|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104013919/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2009-05-21/chennai/28179309_1_poll-observers-assembly-polls-poll-eve|archive-date=4 November 2012}} Although the party was not able to win any seat still it was considered as a good show by political observers as the party was started only 4 months before the elections. The party mainly contributed for the defeat of all Congress - Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) alliance candidates in the Kongu region of Tamil Nadu.{{cite web|last1=Prasad|first1=Ayyappa|date=26 November 2010|title=DMK bid to wrest Kongunadu|url=http://truthdive.com/2010/11/26/dmk-bid-to-wrest-kongunadu.html|url-status=usurped|publisher=Kalugu Media|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110320015451/http://truthdive.com/2010/11/26/dmk-bid-to-wrest-kongunadu.html|archivedate=2011-03-20}} The party came third in many constituencies ahead of Vijayakanth's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam.
2011 Assembly election
In the 2011 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, KMK joined hands with DMK and contested 7 seats. It lost in all the 7 seats and in local body elections, the party allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).[https://archive.today/20120707230830/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-09-26/coimbatore/30203523_1_bjp-ties-gounder-community-parties BJP ties up with KMK for forthcoming polls]
Election history
| class="wikitable" | |||||
| Year || Election || Votes polled || Seats contested || Seats won || Alliance with | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | 2009 Indian general election | 5,79,704 | 12 | 0 | -- |
| 2011 | 2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election | 3,70,044 | 7 | 0 | United Progressive Alliance |
See also
References
{{reflist|2}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://www.knmkparty.com}}
{{Indian political parties}}
Category:Political parties in Tamil Nadu
Category:Political parties established in 2009