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News Topical, Digital Desk : For the first time in 35 years, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) has not fielded a Brahmin candidate in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Other major parties in the state have also not given tickets to the community.

The Brahmin community, which comprises around 3 percent of the state's population, has seen its political influence diminish significantly, a shift that has become more pronounced since Jayalalithaa's death.

AIADMK's historic decision

The AIADMK has avoided fielding Brahmin candidates in all its constituencies this time. In the past 10 years since the death of J. Jayalalithaa, the party has fielded only one Brahmin candidate, retired Director General of Police (DGP) R. Natarajan, in the 2021 elections.

Previously, Brahmin candidates were regularly nominated during the tenures of MGR and Jayalalithaa. Political analysts believe that after Jayalalithaa, Brahmin voters shifted to the BJP, leaving the AIADMK no longer seeing electoral advantage in these candidates.

Zero representation in major parties

The AIADMK has given 27 seats to the BJP, but the BJP has not fielded any Brahmin candidates, even though the party has managed to secure the support of the Tamil Nadu Brahmin Association. The DMK and Congress have also not fielded any Brahmin candidates this time.

Except for reserved seats, most of the state's major parties' candidates are from OBC communities. This further weakens the political representation of the Brahmin community.

TVK and NTK have different stances

In contrast, actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vetti Kazhagam (TVK) has fielded two Brahmin candidates. The Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK) has fielded six Brahmin candidates, four women and two men. Both parties have fielded candidates from areas like Mylapore and Srirangam, which have a significant Brahmin voter base.

The NTK's decision is believed to be linked to Seeman's anti-Periyar and Brahmin-inclusive stance. He had said at an event that he would break the Dravidian wall with the Brahmin Kadapparai.


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