Vanniyar Sangam rally to shape PMK's election strategy

A large rally organized by the Vanniyar Sangam in Mamallapuram is set for May. This event is expected to reveal the future political direction of the PMK party, which is allied with the BJP, ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. The organizers aim to gather "at least 10 lakh" people for the rally. On March 17, PMK leaders held a meeting to prepare for the rally. This meeting coincided with a no-confidence motion against Assembly Speaker M. Appavu by the AIADMK party. PMK MLAs did not attend the Assembly session because of this meeting, raising speculation that they might be shifting their support toward the DMK party. R. Arul, a PMK leader, stated that the May rally will clarify the party's stance on alliances. He emphasized that PMK intends to maintain its criticisms of the DMK. The rally will focus on important issues, including demands for a caste census and more reservation for the Vanniyars, rather than attacking other communities, according to party officials. This upcoming event, which has not been held in 12 years, will highlight the failure of the DMK government to implement a 10.5% internal reservation for Vanniyars. The PMK plans to present ten demands aimed at improving representation for various castes and supporting the development of underprivileged districts in Tamil Nadu.