Chennai: The continuing sanitation staff’ protest and the midnight arrests of over 300 protesters in Chennai earlier this week has turn out to be one more sticking level throughout the ruling DMK-led coalition in Tamil Nadu, with allies the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), CPI, and CPI(M) apprehensive about the way it might dent the federal government’s picture.

What started as a sanitation staff’ agitation in opposition to the Higher Chennai Company’s transfer to privatise waste administration in two zones escalated right into a political confrontation, bringing focus again  to friction between the DMK and its allies.

Photos of sanitation staff being dragged away by the police and detained in numerous areas throughout the town sparked an outrage amongst rights activists and DMK allies.

Whereas VCK leaders overtly criticised the Higher Chennai Company and Higher Chennai police’s dealing with of the protest, CPI and CPI(M) introduced a protest condemning the DMK authorities over the midnight arrests.

Talking to ThePrint, VCK deputy common secretary Vanniyarasu mentioned the way in which police handled protesting staff was unacceptable. “That’s not the way in which the police ought to act in opposition to oppressed folks. They need to have handled them nicely and the Chennai company ought to have held talks with the employees to unravel it amicably,” Vanniyarasu mentioned.

Equally, the CPI(M) additionally condemned the police motion and demanded that Chief Minister M.Ok. Stalin intervene within the matter.

Talking to ThePrint, CPI(M) state secretary P. Shanmugam criticised the administration’s dealing with of the state of affairs. “They communicate of social justice governance. If the working class, particularly Dalits usually are not included in it, then it isn’t actual social justice governance. The Chief Minister ought to resolve the difficulty and make the protesting sanitation staff everlasting workers. That’s their demand and it must be resolved,” he mentioned.

Whereas the CPI(M) held an enormous protest in Egmore condemning the midnight arrests, CPI’s pupil wing held a protest close to Nandanam faculty within the metropolis.

Equally, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Ok. Selvaperunthagai additionally demanded the intervention of the chief minister, however didn’t condemn the arrests. “It’s unhappy that the sanitation staff have been eliminated final evening on a courtroom order. Even when the courtroom mentioned so, the police ought to have approached them with a motherly angle,” he mentioned in a press release on 14 August.

Though the allies condemned the police motion, they stopped wanting immediately blaming Stalin and DMK

The state authorities held a cupboard assembly on 14 August to debate injury management. Nonetheless, chief among the many slew of initiatives they introduced was free breakfast, unlikely to pacify those that are demanding everlasting jobs.

“Sanitation staff throughout the state will probably be supplied with breakfast by the involved native physique. It’ll start from Chennai and will probably be prolonged throughout the state,” Finance Minister Thangam Thenarasu informed the media on 14 August afternoon.

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‘Friction in alliance will mirror amongst occasion staff’

Political analysts say the friction amongst leaders on points like this may percolate all the way down to the occasion staff throughout the state, particularly the allies’ cadre. Political analyst N. Sathiya Moorthy informed ThePrint that the sanitation staff’ protest is greater than a labour problem.

“It’s one more check of the alliance’s social justice declare by the DMK-led state authorities. It’ll dampen the picture of the DMK and its allies on the bottom. Extra importantly, the allies will probably be shedding their maintain on the bottom. As an illustration, VCK’s sturdy vote is from the Dalits and if they don’t communicate up for sanitation staff, it can have an effect on them,” he mentioned

He added that repeated public disagreements throughout the DMK alliance might embolden the BJP and AIADMK to take advantage of caste and sophistication divisions in upcoming campaigns. Political analyst Raveendran Duraisamy, nonetheless, mentioned the state of affairs is extra prone to injury the allies than the ruling DMK.

“Though it might injury the fame of the alliance, the DMK won’t lose its conventional vote financial institution since it’s nonetheless eight extra months earlier than the state goes into meeting election mode. Tamil Nadu voters typically resolve based mostly on broader Dravidian versus BJP narratives, and that offers Stalin some respiratory area,” Duraisamy informed ThePrint.

This isn’t the primary time that the DMK and its allies have been at odds. Over the previous three years, a collection of incidents have examined the alliance.

All of it started with the protest in October 2024, when staff of the Samsung plant at Sriperumbudur struck work over wage parity and dealing circumstances. Whereas the CPI(M)’s labour union stood in solidarity with staff, demanding the state authorities intervene and recognise the union, the DMK authorities negotiated for a swift resumption of manufacturing, placing the demand in abeyance.

VCK additionally criticised the state authorities on the dearth of worker-friendly reforms, prompting DMK ministers together with Industries Minister T.R.B. Raja to step in and mediate between the labour union and Samsung.

Equally, in Could 2024, when the state authorities organised the Muthamizh Murugan convention in Pazhani in Dindigul district, VCK alleged that Hindus had been given particular seats on the convention. He additionally questioned the federal government for organising a convention that emboldened what he termed the Hindutva agenda.

Simply final month, after a 23-year-old Dalit man in Tirunelveli was killed allegedly by his companion’s brother for being in an inter-caste relationship, VCK, CPI and CPI(M) demanded the DMK-led authorities herald a separate regulation in opposition to honour killing. Congress, VCK, CPI, and CPI(M) individually held protests throughout the state to lift this demand.

Equally, VCK leaders have repeatedly alleged their cadres have been denied permission to hoist occasion flags in sure villages. One such flashpoint occurred in March 2024 in Cuddalore district, resulting in tense stand-offs between VCK staff and the police.

Political analyst P. Sigamani mentioned that these incidents have left behind a simmering resentment throughout the allies’ occasion staff. “For now, the sanitation staff problem is in entrance of the DMK-led alliance. Though DMK allies proceed to voice discontent throughout the protected boundaries of coalition politics, the true price of this friction will probably be identified solely when the elections are nearer,” Sigamani informed ThePrint.

(Edited by Viny Mishra)

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Additionally learn: Trash piles up throughout Chennai areas as sanitation staff protest privatisation transfer

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