ABSTRACT
The PT is strongly associated with the political ambitions of the Pallar or Devendrakula Vellalar caste group. This group has suffered the stigma of untouchability and in numerical terms is the second largest Dalit caste group in Tamil Nadu. The Pallars are most numerous in southern parts of the state, where they are often the largest Dalit caste group. The Pallars have articulated their grievances against caste exclusion at various points. In the 1940s and 1950s the Congress Party was the political party closest to their community. This was confirmed by a series of events in 1957 in Ramanathapuram district which included the murder of Immanuel Sekharan, a Pallar leader. This incident was followed by serious rioting, police fire and further deaths. These events attracted national attention and brought the Pallars and Congress closer as the state government offered the Pallars official protection (Forrester 1970: 55-6; Hardgrave 1969: 228). As time passed the Pallars were less effectively represented by the larger parties in Tamil Nadu and sought out alternatives. In the 1980s Dr K. Krishnaswamy presented himself as a political entrepreneur willing to articulate the ambitions of the Pallars.
