Towards Equal Terms
As the results of the Tamil Nadu election were announced in early May, the strides achieved by the Dravidian politics of representation became apparent. The new state assembly, headed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, is perhaps the most representative in terms of caste and religion in all of India, and stands in stark contrast to legislative assemblies in many other parts of the country.
However, akin to other progressive states such as Kerala, Tamil Nadu’s diverse and otherwise representative legislature is yet to encompass a representative share of women. The rival alliances led by the DMK and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam both fielded considerably fewer female candidates compared to the last state elections. The AIADMK went from 30 to 17 female candidates (nine of whom contested seats reserved for Scheduled Castes), and the DMK from 18 to 11 (six of whom contested in SC constituencies). The total number of women elected also fell—only three secured seats for the AIADMK and six for the DMK, in the 234-member assembly.
To say the least, the representation of women in the Dravidian parties does not reflect the legacy of women’s assertion in the Dravidian movement. Women played an active role in
