Vidhan Bharat

Comparative Analysis of DMK and AIADMK Manifestos

In the parliamentary system of government, manifestos constitute an important aspect of democratic electoral politics, serving as a statement of the party’s ideology, response, and policy. In this blog, we will examine the Lok Sabha election manifestos of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the most influential political parties in Tamil Nadu.

History of DMK and AIADMK

Since independence, regional political parties have emerged in many states or regions. Specifically speaking about the southern part of the country, the DMK and AIADMK, the two Dravidian parties of Tamil Nadu, have been the dominant political entities in the state. Chronologically, in the 1920s, to emphasize the Dravidian Identity, non-Brahmin elites laid the foundation stone of the Justice Party. Eventually, the DMK was founded by C.N. Annadurai in 1949 after he quit the Justice Party. C.N. Annadurai, a young nationalist, left the Justice Party because some of its leaders supported the separation of South India from the North.¹ Furthermore, the emergence of the AIADMK resulted from factional feuds within the DMK. The AIADMK was formed in 1972 by the influential figure of the DMK, M.G. Ramachandran, after having disputes with another influential member of the DMK.² In this way, the political parties of Tamil Nadu evolved from the Justice Party to the DMK and AIADMK.

The Supreme Court Remark 

In July 2013, the Supreme Court of India criticized the practice of offering freebies in party manifestos, stating it undermines fair elections. They directed the Election Commission to create guidelines for this. In 2014, the Election Commission introduced guidelines for election manifestos. In 2016, during the Tamil Nadu State Assembly elections, the Election Commission issued notices to AIADMK and DMK to explain their promises and ensure they were feasible.³ The Election Commission further pointed out that the ‘trust of voters should be sought only on those promises which are possible to be fulfilled’. 

The Comparison of Manifestos Nevertheless, the AIADMK party, led by Edappadi Palaniswami, has unveiled its election manifesto for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, emphasizing political and governance reforms to empower regional leadership. On the other hand, the DMK party of Tamil Nadu has articulated a detailed manifesto outlining their commitments across various domains, focusing on youth welfare, cultural identity, and societal concerns. Here’s a comparative analysis of the two manifestos:

	DMK	AIADMK
Political and Governance Reforms	Focuses on youth welfare, women’s empowerment, and minority protection through various schemes and initiatives.	Advocates for political reforms such as the appointment of Governors with the approval of the Chief Minister and the establishment of a Supreme Court branch in Chennai.
Infrastructure Development	Emphasizes railway and airport expansion projects, metro rail lines, and urban development near places of worship to attract tourists.	Prioritizes infrastructure projects such as river link projects, concrete laying of water canals, and flyway projects to enhance connectivity and address water scarcity.
Social Welfare	Focuses on disaster management, child welfare, and mental health programs in schools to address social issues.	Proposed solutions to the Mullaperiyar dam problem, river recovery projects, and welfare measures for fishermen and overseas Tamils.
Economic and Agricultural Reforms	Advocates for trade welfare, GST reforms, and support for agricultural development through schemes like year-round purchase of coconuts and Agricultural Development Councils.	Promises economic relief measures such as discounts on train travel, increased wages under rural work schemes, and a ban on plastic products.
Defense and Security	Does not explicitly address defense and security issues in its manifesto.	Proposes measures such as the establishment of a separate board for medical personnel and a permanent solution to the dyehouse wastewater problem.
Miscellaneous	Both parties offer various miscellaneous proposals such as alternative exams to NEET, rainwater harvesting schemes, and welfare measures for farmers and women’s rights.

Considering the Supreme Court’s judgment criticizing the practice of offering unrealistic promises in party manifestos, it is essential to note that both the DMK and AIADMK manifestos prioritize key sectors such as infrastructure, social welfare, and economic development. However, their differing approaches to governance and policy proposals need to be scrutinized in light of the Election Commission’s guidelines, ensuring that promises made are feasible and uphold the trust of voters. While the DMK emphasizes youth and minority welfare, the AIADMK focuses on infrastructure development and governance reforms. Thus, it becomes crucial for both parties to align their manifestos with feasible promises that uphold the integrity of democratic elections.

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References:

• deSouza, P. R., & Sridharan, E. (2012). India’s political parties (3rd ed.). Sage Publication.
• Teginder, K. (2008). Regional parties in national politics (1st ed.). K.K Publication.
• Tiwari, R.K. (2019). Political parties, party manifestos and elections in India (1st ed.). Routledge. 
• https://www.dmk.in/en/resources/manifesto/
• K, Arun. (2019). AIADMK election manifesto. Retrieved from: https://tamil.timesnownews.com/tamil-nadu/aiadmk-election-manifesto-for-2024-loksabha-election-released-by-edappadi-palaniswami-article-108697386 

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