VELLORE: Vaniyambadi is all set to witness a close contest between three Muslim candidates despite Vaniyambadi constituency, post delimitation, becoming a Muslim minority constituency. (Muslims in Vaniyambadi constitute around 25 percent of the vote while Vanniyars and Mudaliyars constitute around 50 percent of the vote.)
The reason for this is that experts feel that the Vaniyambadi constituency’s voters have risen above caste-based voting with Vanniyars and Mudaliar voters likely to vote for the major Dravidian parties overlooking the fact that they are fielding Muslim candidates.
The AIADMK, the DMK (in alliance with the Indian Union Muslim League - IUML), the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), BJP and the Tamil Manila Congress (TMC) are contesting this election with the AIADMK, DMK-IUML and the AIMIM fielding Muslim candidates.
AIADMK is fielding the local municipal chairperson of the town Dr Nilofur Kafeel. The TMC is fielding the veteran, C Gnanasekaran, a native of the constituency and four-time MLA of Vellore to garner the Mudaliyar votes in the constituency.
PMK is fielding Kirubakaran, a strongman from Jolarpet who may have the negative tag of being a ‘non-local’. AIMIM is fielding Vakeel Ahmed a sitting municipal councillor who is also the State general secretary of the party to contest against the two Muslim candidates.
The DMK-IUML alliance is fielding a local businessman, Syed Farook. The alliance has once again adopted the ‘Ladder’ symbol which had elected Abdul Basith in the 2006 election under the same alliance. BJP’s G Venkatesan is likely to corner the Hindu vote.
For the reason cited, however, the contest appears to be a litmus test for the three Muslim candidates who despite, almost certainly splitting the Muslim votes, it is expected that the Vanniyars and Mudaliyar voters will likely vote for the party rather than the candidates.
Vaniyambadi, with 2.2 lakh voters, is one of the oldest constituencies in the district and elected its first MLA, an independent candidate, A K Hanumanthraya Gounder, way back in 1952. In 1962 it elected a DMK candidate M P Vadivel whose son-in-law C Gnanasekaran representing the TMC is contesting in this election.
Vaniyambadi also has the rare distinction of electing M Abdul Latheef as an independent candidate thrice in 1971, 1977 and in 2001. He was also elected in 1996 as a DMK candidate. Out of the 10 elections the constituency has witnessed, seven Muslim candidates have been elected. AIADMK candidates have won this constituency thrice.
Community dominance in Vaniyambadi
• Muslim candidates have been able to win this constituency with ease since Ambur, which had a sizeable population of Muslim voters
• Out of the 10 elections the constituency has witnessed, seven Muslim candidates have been elected
• Vaniyambadi also has the rare distinction of electing M Abdul Latheef as an independent candidate thrice in 1971, 1977 and in 2001
• Post delimitation, Ambur and Jolarpet became separate constituencies, making Vanniyars and Mudaliyars the dominant communities in Vaniyambadi
