Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar)

The Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) (; TMC(M)) is an Indian regional political party in the  state of Tamil Nadu. It is 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.

G.K Vaasan, the son of the founder G.K Moopanar, was chosen to lead the party in 2002 by the party's officials after the death of Moopanar. TMC was merged with Congress from 2002 to 2014. The party was again formed after a split from Congress in November 2014.

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

Party position

Mission

"To bring back the ‘Golden Rule’ of K. Kamarajar in the state of Tamilnadu."

The party's mission is to provide:

*corruption-free public administration;
*sublime law and order without favouritism or discrimination;
*liquor-free Tamilnadu; 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

Anti-divisive politics

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

Secularism

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

Flag

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. The embossed leaders on the party flag are Indian freedom fighter Kamarajar and founding father G K Moopanar.

History

G.K Moopanar's era (1996 - 2001)

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. 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 April 1, 1996.

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. 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. 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.

G.K Moopanar was a follower of K. Kamarajar. K. Kamarajar had identified G. K Moopanar as his political heir.

In the early 1970s Indra 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.

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

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

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

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.

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

Merge with Congress

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. After the death of his father Vaasan merged the TMC with the congress in 2002. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Congress together secured 163 of the 234 seats in the 2006 Assembly elections.

Split from Congress

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

2019 Indian general elections - National Democratic alliance

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. The alliance was also part of the broader alliance with the National Democratic Alliance. A TMC leader said “We are not talking to the BJP; we will be part of the AIADMK alliance,” Vasans move raised concerns when many secularist parties flocked to Congress to overthrow BJP.

Administration and governance

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

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.

Live Telecast of Assembly Proceedings

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.

Policies

Agriculture revival

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. 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.

Women's empowerment

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

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. In action, the party has effectively demonstrated various campaigns, agitations and personal suit to put an end to alcoholism in the state. 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. The party submitted the public receipts with a memorandum to then Hon. Governor Rosaiah, urging a statewide prohibition of Alcohol.

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

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. 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

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.

Support for Sri Lankan Tamils

G. K Vasan had also raised his objections and extended kindness for the welfare of Tamils in Sri Lanka and living elsewhere. 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.

Outreaches

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.

Vasan as Union Minister of Shipping in 2014 commemorated the freedom fighters, K. Kamarajar and V.O Chidambaram Pillai by re-titling the ‘Ennore Port’ as " Kamarajar Port" in Chennai, Tamilnadu and ‘Tuticorin Port’ as ‘ V.O. Chidambaranar Port’ in Tuticorin, Tamilnadu.

Election performance

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. 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. 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.

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.

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' as its election symbol and fielded 26 candidates, none of whom were elected.

References

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Political parties in India
Political parties in Tamil Nadu
Registered unrecognised political parties in India
Indian National Congress breakaway groups
Political parties established in 1996
1996 establishments in Tamil Nadu