After months of deliberation and alliance-formation in the run-up to the 2021 Tamil Nadu elections, Muslim parties including the AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen), SDPI (Social Democratic Party of India), and IUML (Indian Union Muslim League) have not secured a single seat in Tamil Nadu.
Six Muslim candidates, however, from the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam), and VCK (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi) have secured seats in six constituencies- Nagapattinam, Palayamkottai, Papanasam, Avadi, Manapparai, and Velachery.
J. Mohamed Shanavaz from VCK won to AIADMK candidate Kathiravan in Nagapattinam. DMK candidates Abdul Wahab M, Dr Jawarihullah M H, Nasar S M, and Abdul Samad P won to AIADMK candidates in Palayamkottai, Papanasam, Avadi, and Manapparai respectively. Congress’ Aassan Maulaana won to AIADMK’s M K Ashok in Velachery.
SDPI fielded candidates in six constituencies – Alandur, Ambur, Tiruchirappalli (West), Thiruvarur, Madurai, and Central Palayamkottai, all of which it lost by a large margin to DMK candidates. AIMIM fielded candidates in three constituencies- Vaniyambadi, Krishnagiri, and Sankarapuram, which it lost to DMK and AIADMK candidates.
The Indian Union Muslim League in alliance with the DMK lost in all three contested constituencies – Kadaiyanallur, Vaniyambadi and Chidambaram.
“Aligning with Dravidian parties is an important factor to secure votes in Tamil Nadu elections. Though IUML allied with DMK, they contested under their independent symbol and not under DMK’s Rising Sun. In a land where Rising Sun and Two leaves are familiar, IUML probably failed in getting its symbol across or the message that it was in the DMK alliance. Perhaps there were other local factors too. However, the MMK (Manithaneya Makkal Katchi) contested under DMK’s rising Sun and won two seats,” Tamil Nadu-based journalist Kombai Anwar told The Cognate.
SDPI candidates Mohammed Thameem Ansari contested in Alandur, Umar Farook in Ambur, Abdullah Hassan Faizy in Tiruchirappalli (West) Naseema Banu in Thiruvarur, Sikkandar Batcha in Madurai, and Mohamed Mubarak in Palayamkottai. AIMIM candidates T.S. Vakeel Ahmed contested in Vaniyambadi, Ameenualla in Krishnagiri, and Mujibur Ragiman in Sankarapuram.
Asaduddin Owaisi’s AIMIM and SDPI had sealed an alliance with TTV Dhinakaran’s Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) for the elections. Congress had joined hands with MK Stalin-led DMK and BJP with the AIADMK.
DMK secured the majority in the elections, with 159 seats, and AIADMK won 75 seats.
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Rushda Fathima Khan is the Staff Reporter for The Cognate.
