S. Ve. Shekher to launch party for Brahmin welfare

From Gopal Ethiraj
CHENNAI, 10 June (asiantribune.com): Yet another political party is to take birth in the state. All set to be launched for the welfare of the Brahmins in the state, the founder of the new party will be S.Ve.Shekher, film and drama actor and AIADMK MLA from Mylapore constituency.
Shekher, who belongs to the Brahmin community, was reportedly being sidelined in the AIADMK by some of the influential OBC leaders.
Seeing the minority forward community which is splintered, if brought under one umbrella, it could be some force to reckon with, the actor-politician, it seems, has jumped on to start a party. It should be noted the traditional 26 years old body, Thamiznadu Brahmin association (Thambraas), which is said to have over one lakh members, is yet to decided on its stand to start a party.
The recent success of experiment story in Utter Pradesh where the Dalit leader and BSP chief Mayavathi came out with the “social engineering” theory where Dalits and Brahmins came forward to share power. That worked, and the convergence of the two communities, restored power in the state. No strange, the emergence of a Brahmin party is next only that.
According to Shekher, the party would be called All India Arya Munnetra Kazhagam or Arya Munnetra Kazhagam and would be launched at least a year ahead of the 2011 state Assembly elections.
He launched the Federation of Brahmin Associations (FEBAS) earlier this year to demand seven per cent reservation for Brahmins and also met the Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, to press this demand.
Shekher says: “Brahmins in the state are living in pathetic conditions. Their children are forced to become child labourers. This is the result of suppression of the community in Tamil Nadu for the past 50 years.”
Shekher is confident of making a difference in the way politics is conducted in the state. “An estimated 20 lakh Brahmins live in the state,” he said.