The caste calculus in DMK’s win

With the DMK-led alliance profitable a two-thirds majority in Tamil Nadu, it might be helpful to take a look at the caste calculus in the just lately concluded Assembly election. The post-poll survey exhibits that the help of Dalits, minorities and higher castes performed a serious position in serving to the DMK alliance win.

Dominant backward castes supplied solely lukewarm help to the DMK alliance. In southern Tamil Nadu, a majority of the Thevar vote (55%) was gained by the AIADMK alliance, with solely two of each 10 voters supporting the DMK-led entrance (19%).In the north, the AIADMK alliance, together with the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), secured a majority (54%) of Vanniyar votes. Parts of northern Tamil Nadu additionally noticed a polarisation of the Mudaliar and Vanniyar votes in AIADMK alliance’s favour. However, for each social teams, it was not a sweep for the AIADMK, because the DMK coalition received a minimum of 4 out of each 10 votes.

The Dalit vote for the DMK-led coalition helped them consolidate in the north and offset the lack of the Vanniyar and Mudaliar help. In the west, the Gounder vote was firmly with the AIADMK entrance (59%). Here, the help of Arunthathiyar Dalits (68%), for the DMK alliance helped it garner votes and slash the profitable margins for the AIADMK entrance. The help of the Nadars, the Devendrakula Velalars, and Christians helped the DMK-led coalition in the South.