Tamil Parties Clash Over Credit for SC Empowerment as New Cabinet Boasts Record Representation
Chennai: The newly-formed Tamil Veera Katchi (TVK) government, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, has sparked a political debate over Scheduled Caste (SC) empowerment after its cabinet included eight ministers from the community. Rival parties—AIADMK, DMK, and PMK—have rushed to claim credit for their own historical efforts in uplifting SCs.
During the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the Governor's address in the state assembly, TVK Minister for Public Works Aadhav Arjuna highlighted the impressive SC representation in the current cabinet and urged parties to replace the term 'Thazhthapatta makkal' (downtrodden people) with a more neutral term: 'Scheduled Castes.'
AIADMK's Harur MLA V. Sampathkumar countered by recounting how past AIADMK governments had given SCs prominent roles, including the Speaker's post. He also pushed for declaring Harur as a new district. PMK's Gingee MLA A. Ganeshkumar noted that his party had nominated SC MPs as Union ministers in 1998 and 1999. DMK's former Higher Education Minister Govi Chezhiyaan pointed to increased SC representation in the previous DMK cabinet. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami added that late chief minister M.G. Ramachandran had removed caste-based names from public places, particularly streets and roads.
In a separate exchange, Finance Minister Maria Wilson drew a biblical parallel, saying, 'Tamil Nadu has a new Joseph,' referencing Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, akin to the Josephs in the Old and New Testaments. Responding to AIADMK MLA Sampathkumar's query about the delayed 'White Paper' on state finances, Wilson urged the opposition to move away from 'old ways' and appreciate the new government's focus on transparency and a corruption-free administration.
The debate highlights the ongoing political competition over SC empowerment in Tamil Nadu, with each party seeking to establish its legacy while the current government touts its record representation.
