Kongunadu Munnetra Kazhagam

Origins and platform

The party was launched in the name of "Kongunadu Munnetra Peravai" but later its leaders adopted the already registered name of "Kongunadu Munnetra Kalagam". It was launched in 2009 at Coimbatore by the Kongu Vellala Goundergal Peravai, a Gounder caste organisation. Although the party was launched by a Gounder organisation, it has repositioned itself as the representative of all people in the entire Kongu region . The party charged that Kongu region continued to be one of the most neglected region in Tamil Nadu, although the region contributed for 40% of revenue to the state government. The party also claims that it was formed for the welfare and development of the Kongu region.

2009 Lok Sabha election

The party contested in 12 constituencies independently (without alliance) in 2009 lokshaba elections and polled around 6 lakhs (600,000) votes in the Kongu region. Although the party was not able to win any seat still it was considered as a good show by political observers as the party was started only 4 months before the elections. The party mainly contributed for the defeat of all Congress - Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) alliance candidates in the Kongu region of Tamil Nadu. The party came third in many constituencies ahead of Vijayakanth's Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam.

2011 Assembly election

In the 2011 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, KMK joined hands with DMK and contested 7 seats. It lost in all the 7 seats and in local body elections, the party allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In 2016 they are expected to ally with Naam Tamilar Katchi.