1. 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.

2. 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

3. 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).

4. 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

5. National Issues and Profile

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

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

8. Still Standing Alone …

9. 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)

10. 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

11. Any Questions?