Tamil Nadu’s Political Landscape and Dravidian Streams

Dravidian Streams in Tamil Nadu

• Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK): Advocates for ‘assertive populism’, leveraging social justice and federalism to uplift marginalized groups.

• All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK): Prioritizes patronage and welfare over ideology.

• AIADMK united diverse anti-DMK forces, mobilizing Dalits against intermediate castes.

Dravidian Model and Economic Success

• Driven by a competitive populist economic model, facilitated comprehensive industrialisation and welfare in health, education, and services.

• Despite its success, the model has limitations, including mediocre learning outcomes, poor employment quality, and environmental degradation.

• Policies designed for the inclusivity of Other Backward Classes (OBC) may have reinforced caste divisions.