Senior leaders from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its secular‑progressive alliance partners held a significant protest at Madavakkam near tambaram in Chennai South District to condemn the policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party‑led Union Government.
Reason for the Protest
The protest was organised primarily in opposition to recent decisions taken by the Central government, particularly:
· Scrapping the Mahatma gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme — better known as the 100‑day work guarantee scheme, a flagship employment programme benefiting rural areas.
· Removing Mahatma Gandhi’s name from the rural employment scheme, which the DMK and allies criticised as undermining the legacy of social welfare measures.
The alliance leaders described these actions as harmful to the interests of the rural poor, and argued that they weaken job security and social support for vulnerable communities in tamil Nadu.
Who Took Part?
A number of prominent political figures attended and addressed the gathering, including:
· Ki. Veeramani – Social activist and leader associated with the Dravidian movement.
· Vaiko – leader of the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK).
· Thol. Thirumavalavan – leader of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), who represents Dalit interests and is a DMK alliance MP.
· K. Balakrishnan, M. Veerapaandian (CPI‑M), K.V. Thangabalu (Congress) and leaders from several other alliance parties.
· DMK legislators including Kanimozhi Somu, Thalikachi Thangapaandi, and others also participated actively.
The protest was jointly organised by the DMK along with its secular and progressive allies, signifying a broader political opposition to the central policies.
Key Messages and Speeches
The rally was inaugurated by Vaiko, and before the protest began, participants paid homage to Periyar’s ideological legacy by offering floral tributes at his portrait displayed on the stage.
During his speech, Ki. Veeramani strongly criticised the Union government for dismantling the 100‑day employment scheme, alleging it was done under the ideological influence of the RSS and the bjp, and that it would hurt the poor and unemployed rural workforce.
Thirumavalavan and other speakers echoed similar sentiments, asserting that such policy changes were against the interests of ordinary citizens and rural workers, and that the central government was disregarding welfare needs.
Broader Political Context
The Madavakkam protest is one of several actions taken by the DMK and its allies over the past year to oppose decisions by the Union government that they consider detrimental to tamil Nadu’s people — such as changes in employment guarantee measures and voter roll revisions
This demonstration reflects ongoing tensions between the state’s ruling alliance and the central bjp government, particularly on issues involving social welfare programmes, state autonomy, and policy priorities for rural and marginalised communities.
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