The fourth legislative assembly election of Madras State (later renamed as Tamil Nadu) was held in February 1967. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) led coalition under the leadership of C.N. Annadurai won the election defeating the Indian National Congress.
Background The Congress party began to show weakness in the years after the 1962 election. In the summer of 1962, DMK conducted demonstrations against rising prices. These demonstrations turned violent throughout the state leading to the arrest of 6500 DMK volunteers, 14 members of the assembly and four members of the Lok Sabha, including Annadurai.
K. Kamaraj voluntarily resigned the Chief Ministership in 1963, despite being popular, to assume the presidency of the All India Congress Committee and was replaced by M. Bakthavatsalam. Kamaraj had hoped to serve as role model to other senior Congress leaders to pave way for youngsters and strengthen the party's popularity. Robert L. Hardgrave Jr. (Temple Professor Emeritus in the Humanities, Government and Asian Studies from the University of Texas) wrote in an article published in the journal Pacific Affairs, that M. Bhaktavatsalam did not have the personal charisma or political acumen of Kamaraj. Persistent rumours of corruption tarnished the image of the Government. In October 1964, the food crisis brought the popularity of the Congress Government to an all-time low.
Issues
The major issues at play in the election were the official language issue, the rise in essential commodity prices and the shortage of rice. The central Government led by the Indian National Congress had implemented an act replacing English with Hindi as an official language of India while retaining a possible "associate" status to English. The switchover came into effect on 26 January 1965. In protest to the vague wording of the act, fearing a possible elimination of English and imposition of Hindi, DMK had launched an agitation opposing the switchover and that agitation turned violent. The 1967 election was held in the aftermath of this violence.
The acute rice shortage prevailing in the state became an election issue with the DMK promising to supply three padis (approx. 4.5 kg) of rice for 1 Rupee in its election manifesto. The DMK capitalised on the rice shortage as well as widespread discontent with the Bhaktavatsalam administration. Slogans like Kamarajar Annachi kadalaiparuppu vilai ennachu (Elder Brother (Annachi is a title historically been used to refer to a person of Kamaraj's caste) Kamaraj, what happened to the price of chana dal?), Bhaktavatsalam annachi, arisi vilai ennachu (lit. Brother Bhatavatsalam, what happened to the price of rice?) were used effectively by the DMK to stir public anger against the Congress.
This election was noted for popular actor, DMK candidate and future Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) being shot in the throat by actor M.R. Radha mere weeks before the polls. He survived the shooting, but the incident created a huge popularity wave for MGR. This eventually helped to increase the popularity of not only MGR, but also the DMK in the election, and is attributed as one of the reasons for the victory of the DMK.
According to journalist Tharasu Shyam, a college student at the time recalled that during the 1967 Assembly elections, the then-ruling Congress party distributed ₹10 to voters as part of its electoral practices.
Coalitions There were two major political coalitions running in the elections. The Indian National Congress contested alone, while the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) under Periyar E. V. Ramasamy supported and campaigned for the incumbent Congress against his protege Annadurai. The DMK-led front comprised the Swatantra Party, Communist Party of India (Marxist), Praja Socialist Party, Samyukta Socialist Party, Tamil Nadu Toilers Party, Republican Party of India and the Indian Union Muslim League. The Tamil Arasu Kazhagam and the We Tamils party campaigned using the DMK election symbol. This opposition coalition was forged by C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) with the sole purpose of defeating the Kamaraj led Congress. Rajaji's personal hostility to Kamaraj and his opposition to the Congress party were the main reasons behind Swatantra's alliance with DMK. The Communist Party of India campaigned alone without joining either of the two coalitions.
The electoral alliance between DMK, Swatantra Party and Muslim League had emerged in the years before the 1964 civic elections throughout Madras state. During the 1964 election campaign Rajagopalachari had said, "The DMK and Muslim League are my children and I am duty bound to nurse them to strength and stature."
Campaigning
Both Congress and DMK used films and actors for campaigning. Gemini Studios produced a political film for the Congress – Vazhga Nam Thayagam starring Shivaji Ganesan and Nagesh. Sivaji and Padmini worked for the Congress party. Despite its efforts, Congress could not counter the DMK's propaganda, which had a long history of using films for political campaigns since its founding.
DMK's long-term association with the Tamil Film industry was put to good use in the campaign. MGR's films were used to attack Congress policies and to popularise DMK's positions. Similar to the tactics employed in the elections of 1957 and 1962, film songs and dialogues from Kaanji Thalaivan (1963), "Deivathai (1964), "Padakotti (1964)", Aayirathil Oruvan", Enga Veettu Pillai (1965), Anbe Vaa (1966), Naan Aanaiyittal (1966), "Mugarasi (1966)", "Petralthan Pillaya (1966)",Vivasayee (1967) and Arasakattalai (1967) were used for political messaging. Lesser known film stars like Ravichandran and Jaishankar used their films for praising DMK and Annadurai. The DMK put up posters of MGR recuperating in a hospital bed with a neck cast (from his gunshot wounds) all over Tamil Nadu to garner public sympathy and support.
Election The election was held for a total of 234 constituencies, including 43 Scheduled Caste and 2 Scheduled Tribe reserved constituencies. 778 candidates, including 11 women were in the fray, of whom 231 men and 3 women were elected to the assembly. The election saw a turnout of 76.57 percent of all eligible voters, with 79.19% men and 73.99% women casting their votes. The polling for the assembly election took place along with the polling for the 1967 parliamentary elections. It took place in three phases between 5 and 21 February (5, 18 and 21 February).
Seat Allotment DMK Front
colspan="8" DMK Front Party Flag Symbol LeaderSeats C. N. Annadurai 168 174 S. P. Adithanar4 M. P. Sivagnanam2 C. Rajagopalachari27 M. R. Venkataraman22 4 Muhammed Ismail 3 George Fernandes 3 P. K. Mookiah Thevar 1K. B. S. Mani A. R. Subbiah Mudaliar2 Total 234
Congress
colspan="8" Indian National Congress Party Flag Symbol Leader SeatsK. Kamaraj2331 Total 234
Results DMK and its coalition allies won 179 seats (76.5%). The Indian National Congress won 51 seats (21.8%). Four candidates of the Naam Thamizhar Party led by S. P. Adithanar and two candidates of Tamil Arasu Kazhagam led by M. P. Sivagnanam contestedIn India the term "Contest" is used to denote participation in an election. The Representation of People Act of 1951, the legislation which governs elections in India uses the term and so does the Election Commission of India. under DMK's "Rising Sun" Symbol. The Indian Union Muslim League candidates contested as independents.
AlliancesPartyPopular VoteVote %Seats contestedSeats wonChangeUnited Front Seats: 179Seat Change: 121Popular Vote: 8,051,433 Popular Vote %: 52.59% 6,230,552 40.69% 174 137 87 811,232 5.30% 27 20 12 623,114 4.07% 22 11 11 136,188 0.89% 4 4 4 95,494 0.62% 3 3 3 84,188 0.55% 3 2 2 DMK Backed Independents 70,665 0.46% 2 2 2Indian National CongressSeats: 51 Seat Change: 84Popular Vote: 6,293,378Popular Vote %: 41.10% 6,293,378 41.10% 232 51 84OthersSeats: 4 Seat Change: 4 591,214 3.86% 246 1 4 275,932 1.80% 32 2 44,714 0.29% 1 1 31,286 0.20% 13 0 22,745 0.15% 24 0 Total 11 Political Parties15,310,702100% —234 28
Results by district +DistrictSeatsDMK+INC+OTHChengalpattu151410Madras121200North Arcot221750South Arcot211560Dharmapuri9360Salem171610Coimbatore252230Nilgiris3210Tiruchirapalli221660Thanjavur231481Madurai221831Ramanathapuram171601Tirunelveli191351Kanyakumari7160Total234179514
By Region +Alliance-wise ResultsRegionTotal SeatsDMK-led AllianceIndian National CongressNorthern Madras70Western Madras54Southern Madras65Central Madras45
By constituency **Muslim League Candidates contesting as independents *DMK backed Independents