A Panther in Parliament? The VCK and National Politics Hugo Gorringe, University of Edinburgh PSA Conference, Brighton 2016 The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi or Liberation Panther Party is a Dalit-led organisation in Tamil Nadu. My research focuses on their performance and followers in that state but when I was conducting research in 2012 their leader – Thirumavalavan – was an MP in Delhi and it was there that I managed to interview him away from the crowds that attend any event he is at in the south.

Federal Coalitions & State Parties Federalisation of Party System in India State-based Parties in the Coalition Era The autonomy of state politics Coalition Partners calling the shots

Nested Games Assembly vs Parliament Party or Region National-Regional agreements Enhancing or checking State power Party or Region Defending state interests or party coffers Centre as only Option? Off-setting regional marginality ‘Federalism at the Centre; Coalitions at the State’ (Ravikumar 2015).

With friends like these … VCK is pro-LTTE, Tamil Nadu based small party … why stand in Lok Sabha elections with Congress and DMK? DMK arrests VCK cadres across TN Bans use of ‘Eelam’ But … Third Front Fails to Materialise Lack of better Options Federal Calculations? TN Congress Furious

National Issues and Profile

Resources Campaign Finances Salary and Perks Commissions Invitations & Engagements Standing Committees Commerce Petroleum & Natural Gas Consultative Committee Social Justice & Empowerment

Pay-Offs and Tainting? The Middle Game Bargaining for Change? Uncertain rewards Tainting Selling Out Focus on Tamil not Dalits Betrayal of Eelam Tamils

Still Standing Alone …

Street Politics in Parliament? Walk-outs, Interruptions and Banners The Cartoon Controversy Look at the issue of the Ambedkar cartoon. This is the Dalit leader who brought Parliament to a halt for the dishonour inflicted on Ambedkar [greeted with huge cheers]. This one act is enough to justify his five year term! (Speech at Melavalavu, June 2012) Manual Scavenging in the Railways Minister of Railways has not given priority to the welfare of workers, particularly to Class-IV workers.  Even in the 21st Century in our country, the scavengers of Railways are cleaning the nightsoils of human beings manually. Really, it is a great insult to the nation (Lok Sabha Debate, July 2009)

Conclusions? Federal Institutions offer Options State Politics not Participatory Polity Wide Parties constrain state units The two are not always in sync There are affective and status gains for MPs But also dangers of tainting Small parties do not get full access to power Parties learn from their past 2016 as VCK attempt to recover radicalism

Any Questions?