All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi
All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi | |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | AISMK |
| Founder | R. Sarathkumar |
| Founded | 31 August 2007 |
| Dissolved | 12 March 2024 |
| Merged into | Bharatiya Janata Party |
| Party flag | |
 | |
The All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (transl. All India Equality People's Party; abbr. AISMK) was an Indian regional political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. It was founded by the former member of parliament of the Republic of India R. Sarathkumar on 31 August 2007. The party was led by Sarathkumar as president until 12 March 2024 from its date of founding. On 12 March 2024, the AISMK was merged into the Bharatiya Janata Party by its founder Sarathkumar, and presided over by K. Annamalai, the state president of the Tamil Nadu BJP.[1]
History
[edit]R. Sarathkumar era (2007–24)
[edit]
Founder of the party
The party was founded on 31 August 2007 by R. Sarathkumar, a veteran Tamil film star and politician. In the 2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, the party became part of the AIADMK-led Alliance,[2] which included the left and actor-turned-politician Vijayakant's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK). In that alliance, the AISMK contested the candidature of R. Sarathkumar in Tenkasi and Ernavoor A. Narayanan in Nanguneri[3][4] in the two leaves symbol as the AIADMK candidate and won both the seats. Also the alliance swept the polls by winning 203 seats.[5] AIADMK general secretary J. Jayalalithaa was sworn in as chief minister of Tamil Nadu for the fourth time.
In the 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, the party continued the alliance, and in that alliance, the AISMK contested the candidature of R. Sarathkumar in Tiruchendur in the two leaves symbol as the AIADMK candidate and lost to DMK candidate Anitha R. Radhakrishnan by a margin of 26,001 votes.
In November 2017, Sarathkumar said in an interview for The Hindu: "For the last 10 years, I have been closely associated with AIADMK. In fact, I have even been identified as the party's propaganda secretary. Though I don't regret this identification, my party couldn't grow. Now, I want to focus on my party and be seen as a possible chief minister candidate.".[6]
In the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, the party aligned with Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), and in that alliance, the AISMK contested 33 seats in the torch light symbol as the MNM candidate and lost in every seat contested.
Dissolution
[edit]On 12 March 2024, the All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi was merged into the Bharatiya Janata Party by its founder Sarathkumar, and presided over by K. Annamalai, the president of the Tamil Nadu BJP in Chennai.
References
[edit]- ^ "Actor Sarathkumar-led AISMK Merges With BJP For Lok Sabha Polls In Tamil Nadu". www.timesnownews.com. 12 March 2024. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
- ^ Ram, Arun (11 April 2006). "Starry blow to DMK, Sarath Kumar joins AIADMK". DNA India.
- ^ "Tamil Nadu / Chennai News: Jayalalithaa establishes direct contact with leaders of AIADMK alliance". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 19 March 2011. Archived from the original on 22 March 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2012.
- ^ "Sarath Kumar's party gets two seats in AIADMK alliance". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 10 March 2011.
- ^ "Tenkasi constituency election results 2011 : Sarath Kumar R of AISMK WINS - Tamil Nadu - NewsReporter.in". Archived from the original on 14 August 2018. Retrieved 6 December 2013.
- ^ "Want to be seen as possible CM candidate: Sarath Kumar". The Hindu. 16 November 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2018.