Pakka politics

Is Tamil Nadu politics heading toward the next generation? Will the entry of an actor-turned-politician alter political equations in the state? Is it going to be Udhayanidhi vs. Vijay? These are some of the questions being debated and discussed over the past few months in Tamil Nadu. The entry of actor-turned-politician Vijay, with a massive young fan following, has posed new challenges for well-established parties like the DMK, AIADMK, and others.Mano Thangaraj began his career as a student activist and has been actively involved in political movements in Kanniyakumari. He once held the post of district panchayat chairman as an independent and gradually rose through the ranks of the DMK. Currently, he is the MLA from the Padmanabhapuram constituency, a two-time minister, and serves as the DMK district secretary for the Kanniyakumari West region.In this episode of Pakka Politics, Shabbir Ahmed engages in a conversation with Mano Thangaraj about student activism, communal politics in Kanniyakumari, and Vijay’s entry into politics.

For the first time in 17 years, employees at Samsung’s Sriperumbudur plant went on strike, demanding their right to form a labour union. The Samsung workers’ strike has sparked a debate on permitting labour unions backed by political parties in multinational companies. At the center of the dispute is the registration of the CITU-affiliated Samsung India Workers Union (SIWU), which the company opposes due to the use of the patented ‘Samsung’ name and the union’s political backing from the CPI(M). Efforts to resolve the strike have led to a standoff, and the police crackdown launched by the Tamil Nadu government was viewed as an attempt to silence the voices of striking employees, drawing widespread criticism. In this episode of Pakka Politics, Shabbir Ahmed speaks with A Soundararajan, General Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), on labour struggles, rights, and their politics.

A recent study by the Reuters Institute reveals that only 24% of the 174 top editors across 240 brands on five continents are women. Similarly, the 2020 Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP) report on Indian media shows a decline in women’s presence as news subjects and sources. Only 11% of women journalists cover politics and government, compared to 89% of men, highlighting how women journalists are often confined to specific topics. Organizations like the Network of Women in Media (NWMI) have raised concerns about the lack of female representation in Indian media. In Tamil Nadu’s television media, women have long been restricted to covering features, health, and gender-related issues, but there is a visible shift as more women journalists and anchors take on crucial newsroom roles, including political debates. In this context, Sugitha Sarangaraj has emerged as the first female news editor to lead a television news channel. Since 2012, she has been one of the few women anchors to moderate political debates during prime time. In this episode of Pakka Politics, Shabbir Ahmed speaks with Sugitha Sarangaraj about her journey from reporter to news editor, the changing dynamics of the media industry, women in media, gender sensitivity, and newsroom politics.

As India stands at the crossroads of its future, 10 years of Modi’s governance have ignited apprehensions among democratic forces regarding the nation’s trajectory if BJP retains power in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Under Modi’s leadership, India has undergone significant transformations, marked by compromised institutions, stifled dissent, and a narrative where religion reigns supreme. The upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections are not just about political parties but a battle to uphold and preserve India’s secular fabric. In the latest Pakka Politics episode, Shabbir Ahmed engages with Professor Ramu Manivannan, former head of the Department of Politics and Public Administration at the University of Madras, discussing how India has changed under Modi and the formidable challenges ahead for democratic forces.

Following in the footsteps of Tamil Nadu’s rich history of counter-culture and progressive politics through music, comes the hip-hop band Comrade Gangsta. The band blends socialism, Ambedkarite and Periyarist ideologies with a musical genre born out of Black pride and resistance. Much like Arivu, The Casteless Collective and other Tamil hip hop bands, Comrade Gangsta have taken the stage hundreds of times to draw people towards a socialist future free of caste and communalism. The Comrade Gangsta band started in 2021 is slowly capturing the imagination of people with their power packed performances. The band consists of RJ Prasath, Dinesh and Anand Castro has performed on hundreds of stages across Tamil Nadu. In this episode of Pakka Politics, Shabbir Ahmed is in conversation with team Comrade Gangsta rapper Dinesh and RJ Prasath on making music for the working class.

Tamil Nadu has witnessed a surge in atrocities against Dalits, and in recent years, these attacks have multiplied, raising questions about the commitment of Dravidian parties to protect marginalized communities. Incidents such as human feces being mixed into a drinking water tank in Vengavayal, Pudukottai district, and assaults on students from Scheduled Caste communities in Nanguneri, Tirunelveli district, have sent shockwaves across the state. Dalit rights activists and intellectuals have criticized the DMK government for its lukewarm response to handling cases related to atrocities against Dalits. Vocal activists have faced online attacks and trolling. In this episode of Pakka Politics, Shabbir Ahmed engages in a conversation with Shalin Maria Lawrence, a writer and political commentator, discussing her politics, activism, her connection to Vada Chennai, social justice, gender justice in politics and where Dalits fit into Dravidian politics.