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Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi

Updated: Wikipedia source

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (transl. Liberation Panther Party; abbr. VCK) (விடுதலைச் சிறுத்தைகள் கட்சி), formerly known as the Dalit Panthers of India or the Dalit Panthers Iyyakkam (transl. Dalit Panthers Movement; abbr. DPI), is an Indian social movement and political party that seeks to combat caste based discrimination, active in the state of Tamil Nadu. The party also has a strong emphasis on Tamil nationalism. Its chair is Thol. Thirumavalavan, a lawyer from Chennai, and its general secretary is the writer Ravikumar.

Infobox

Abbreviation
VCK
Chairperson
Thol. Thirumavalavan
General Secretary
D. Ravikumar
Founder
M. Malalchami, D. Amukurajah
Founded
1982
Split from
Dalit Panthers
Ideology
Social Justice Ambedkarism Marxism Secularism Tamil nationalism Dravidianism
Political position
Left-wing
Colours
Blue Red
ECI Status
State Party
Alliance
National Alliance INDIA (since 2023) Regional Alliances SPA (Tamil Nadu and Puducherry) Former Alliances UPA (2006–2013, 2017–2023) (till dissolved)) (National) Democratic Progressive Alliance (2006–2015, 2017–2019) National Democratic Alliance (2001–2003) (India) Democratic People Alliance (2006) (Tamil Nadu) Janata Dal (United) Alliance (2004) (Tamil Nadu) Makkal Nala Koottani (2015–2016) (Tamil Nadu) TMC (1999–2001) (Tamil Nadu)
Seats in Rajya Sabha
0 / 245
Seats in Lok Sabha
2 / 543
Seats in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
2 / 234

Tables

· Electoral performance › Lok Sabha Elections
1999
1999
Year
1999
Seats won
0 / 2
Percentage of votes
-
Remarks
As Tamil Maanila Congress candidates
2004
2004
Year
2004
Seats won
0 / 8
Percentage of votes
-
Remarks
As Janata Dal (United) candidates
2009
2009
Year
2009
Seats won
1 / 2
Percentage of votes
0 %
2014
2014
Year
2014
Seats won
0 / 2
Percentage of votes
0 %
2019
2019
Year
2019
Seats won
2 / 2
Percentage of votes
0 %
Remarks
Ravikumar (writer) contested in Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam symbol
2024
2024
Year
2024
Seats won
2 / 2
Percentage of votes
2 %
Year
Seats won
Percentage of votes
Remarks
1999
0 / 2
-
As Tamil Maanila Congress candidates
2004
0 / 8
-
As Janata Dal (United) candidates
2009
1 / 2
0 %
2014
0 / 2
0 %
2019
2 / 2
0 %
Ravikumar (writer) contested in Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam symbol
2024
2 / 2
2 %
· Electoral performance › Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections
2001
2001
Election Year
2001
Election
12th Assembly
Votes polled
–
Won
1 / 8
Change of Seats
1
Alliance
DMK+
Result
Won
2006
2006
Election Year
2006
Election
13th Assembly
Votes polled
426,321
Won
2 / 9
Change of Seats
2
Alliance
ADMK+
Result
Won
2011
2011
Election Year
2011
Election
14th Assembly
Votes polled
555,965
Won
0 / 10
Change of Seats
2
Alliance
DMK+
Result
Lost
2016
2016
Election Year
2016
Election
15th Assembly
Votes polled
331,849
Won
0 / 25
Change of Seats
Alliance
DMDK+
Result
Lost
2021
2021
Election Year
2021
Election
16th Assembly
Votes polled
457,763
Won
4 / 6
Change of Seats
4
Alliance
DMK+
Result
Won
2026
2026
Election Year
2026
Election
17th Assembly
Votes polled
540,056
Won
2 / 8
Change of Seats
2
Alliance
DMK+
Result
Won
Election Year
Election
Votes polled
Won
Change of Seats
Alliance
Result
2001
12th Assembly
–
1 / 8
1
DMK+
Won
2006
13th Assembly
426,321
2 / 9
2
ADMK+
Won
2011
14th Assembly
555,965
0 / 10
2
DMK+
Lost
2016
15th Assembly
331,849
0 / 25
DMDK+
Lost
2021
16th Assembly
457,763
4 / 6
4
DMK+
Won
2026
17th Assembly
540,056
2 / 8
2
DMK+
Won

References

  1. Outside support to TVK+ in Tamil Nadu.
  2. The Wire
    https://thewire.in/politics/tamil-nadu-elections-vck-dalit-liberation-panthers-party-thirumavalavan
  3. The Hindu
    https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/vck-invites-aiadmk-for-prohibition-of-liquor-rally-but-says-no-to-pmk-and-bjp/article68626359.ece
  4. India Today
    https://www.indiatoday.in/india/tamil-nadu/story/mk-stalin-party-dmk-ally-vck-tamil-nadu-rift-speculation-2606344-2024-09-26
  5. Party System Change in South India: Political Entrepreneurs, Patterns and Processes
  6. The Hindu
    https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/Strong-ingredients-of-Tamil-nationalism-in-VCK-manifesto/article14958584.ece
  7. Frontline
    https://frontline.thehindu.com/politics/tamil-nationalism-then-and-now/article4282662.ece
  8. The Economic Times
    https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/
  9. The Times of India
    https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Why-caste-battle-in-Tamil-Nadu-never-ends/articleshow/48646204.cms
  10. The Hindu
    https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/prosecution-deliberately-bungled-in-shankar-murder-case-vck-leader-says/article31903958.ece
  11. Untouchable Citizens: Dalit Movements and Democratization in Tamil Nadu
  12. The Quint
    https://www.thequint.com/news/india/viduthalai-chiruthaigal-katchi-vck-thirumavalavan-contest-own-2021-assembly-election-dmk-dalits-pmk
  13. Economic and Political Weekly
    https://search.worldcat.org/issn/0012-9976
  14. Hindustan Times
    https://www.hindustantimes.com/nation/how-muhammad-ali-inspired-india-s-dalits/story-RWXBe295j9D7AFwwBKxsmI.html
  15. India TV News
    https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/madras-hc-orders-eci-to-consider-vck-s-request-for-star-symbol-35119.html
  16. NDTV
    https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/row-over-ambedkar-nehru-cartoon-in-ncert-textbook-top-10-developments-482156
  17. The Hindu
    https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/parliaments-stand-on-ambedkar-cartoon-disturbing-panikkar/article3426321.ece
  18. Saddahaq
    https://web.archive.org/web/20160312010636/https://www.saddahaq.com/tamil-nadu-will-thirumavalavan-be-able-to-form-coalition-government-in-the-state
  19. The New Indian Express
    https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2014/sep/26/teso-observes-black-day-to-protest-rajapaksas-address-665219.html
  20. The Indian Express
    https://indianexpress.com/
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