CHENNAI: For the first time in 35 years, AIADMK has not fielded any Brahmin candidate in the Tamil Nadu assembly polls, indicating the waning influence of the community that hasn’t found place this time in the lists of other major parties as well.Its ally, BJP, too has no Brahmin candidate in the 27 seats allotted to it, though the party has managed to get support of Tamil Nadu Brahmin Association (TAMBRAS). DMK and Congress have no Brahmin candidate either. Brahmins constitute around 3% of the state’s population. In about 10 years since the demise of chief minister J Jayalalithaa, a Brahmin, AIADMK had fielded one candidate from the community, R Nataraj, a retired DGP, in the 2021 election. In contrast, actor Vijay’s TVK has fielded two Brahmin candidates while Tamil nationalist Seeman’s NTK has fielded six. The two parties have chosen constituencies like Mylapore and Srirangam, where there are sizeable Brahmin votes. Most candidates fielded by the major parties in the state now belong to OBC communities, except in reserved constituencies.The two parties have chosen constituencies like Mylapore and Srirangam, where there are sizeable Brahmin votes. Most candidates fielded by the major parties in the state now belong to OBC communities, except in reserved constituencies.“AIADMK has done injustice to the Brahmin community. Jaya and MGR had always fielded Brahmin candidates,” said political commentator Raveendran Duraisamy.Political analyst Arun Kumar says the AIADMK had retained Brahmin support for decades. “But this has shifted in recent years. After Jayalalithaa’s death, Brahmin voters have moved towards BJP. As a result, AIADMK no longer sees electoral value in fielding Brahmin candidates, leading to reduced representation,” he said. On the rationale behind NTK fielding six Brahmin candidates, analysts say Seeman has taken an anti-Periyar stance. “While participating in an RSS-affiliated event, he said he would demolish the ‘Dravidian wall’ using a Brahmana kadapparai (crowbar). They use caste and identity explicitly in political messaging,” said political analyst Ayyanathan.In the case of TVK, there appears to be no clear rationale in candidate selection. The party has fielded Brahmins despite having Periyar as one of its five icons. “TVK, perhaps, wants to send a message that it is not an anti-Brahmin party,” Raveendran Duraiswamy said.DMK has nominated Kamal Haasan for the Rajya Sabha, but he is a self-proclaimed atheist. “DMK does not have formal rules excluding Brahmins. But its political position focuses on non-Brahmin empowerment,’’ Arun said.
