"No Vanniyar should vote for DMK...": PMK's Anbumani slams TN govt for not implementing internal quota for Vanniyar community

Villupuram (Tamil Nadu) [India], July 20 (ANI): PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Sunday criticised the Tamil Nadu government for delaying the implementation of 10.5% internal reservation for the Vanniyar community, despite the Supreme Court having cleared the policy over 1,200 days ago. Leading a protest in Villupuram district, he demanded immediate action from the DMK-led government and called on Vanniyar legislators across all parties to mount pressure on Chief Minister MK Stalin.
Addressing the gathering, Anbumani said that if the internal reservation policy had remained in effect, 3,800 Vanniyar students would have secured MBBS seats, 800 would have pursued postgraduate medical studies, 6,000 would have joined engineering colleges, another 6,000 would have gained government jobs, and 80,000 students would have benefited through admissions to arts and science colleges.
He stated that the Supreme Court had already clarified that the state government has the authority to grant internal reservation without central approval or the need for a caste-wise census. The Court also ruled that the state could use existing data to allocate internal quotas. "Despite this, the DMK government is deliberately delaying action," he said.
Anbumani questioned the silence of 38 Vanniyar MLAs in the Assembly, who belong to various parties including the DMK, AIADMK, Congress, and PMK. "Have they ever met the Chief Minister to demand justice for their community? Only PMK MLAs are voicing support," he said, accusing other legislators of failing to stand up for their own people.
He further attacked the DMK for betraying its 2019 Vikravandi by-election promise to provide internal reservation for Vanniyars. "The Chief Minister personally promised me that the reservation would be implemented. But he has not acted," he said.
Recalling the history of PMK's struggle, Anbumani detailed a series of meetings, protests, and negotiations held between 2019 and 2021 that eventually led to the AIADMK government's announcement of 10.5% reservation. Although the percentage was lower than the PMK's demand of 18%, it was accepted as a starting point. He reiterated the demand for a caste census to ensure proportional reservation based on population.
Anbumani criticised the speed with which other communities received internal quotas. He said the Janarthanan Commission had granted 3.5% reservation for Muslims in 180 days and 3% for Arundhathiyars in 243 days. "But Vanniyars have waited more than 1,200 days even after a Supreme Court verdict," he said.
Calling this protest, the beginning of a series of agitations, Anbumani warned of intensified movements, including a jail bharo campaign, if the government continues to ignore their demands. He urged the cadres to campaign door-to-door and tell people that the DMK is anti-Vanniyar. "No Vanniyar should vote for DMK in the 2026 Assembly elections," he said. (ANI)