PMK was founded by Dr. S. Ramdoss and the president is G.K. Mani. Ramdoss had earlier worked with the Vanniyar Sangham (Vanniyar Union) founded by him in 1980. PMK is based amongst the Vannsiar caste, an OBC community. PMK has advocated the bifurcation of the state of Tamil Nadu, a proposal that was seen as a casteist line. PMK was mainly based in the northern half of the state. Ahead of the 2004 election PMK joined the broad Tamil political front Democratic Progressive Alliance where also DMK, Congress, CPI, CPI (M) and Indian Union Muslim League are members. |