Paattali Makkal Katchi (; PMK) is a political party in Tamil Nadu, India, founded by S. Ramadoss in 1989 for the Vanniyars, a caste in northern Tamil Nadu. It is currently part of the BJP led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). It contests the elections with the 'Ripe Mango' symbol. The party is known for its occasional involvement in riots and vandalism. Former CM of Tamil Nadu, Jayalalitha likened the party to a terrorist organisation and threatened with ban for its frequent involvement in violence and vandalism of public property History Vanniyar Sangam S. Ramadoss founded the in the late 1970s, bringing together a coalition of Vanniyar caste organizations. The Vanniyar Sangam is PMK's parent organisation. In the 1980s, the Vanniyar Sangham organized the 1987 Vanniyar reservation agitation demanding MBC status for Vanniyars. At the peak of the protests, the state was paralysed for a week when lakhs of trees were felled, highways blocked and damaged and more than 1400 houses of the Dalit community burned down. The police under the M G Ramchandran (MGR) led AIADMK government shot down 21 protestors. Later in 1989, the DMK government under M. Karunanidhi granted them 20 percent reservation under the Most backward class. PMK (1989–present) The Pattali Makkal Katchi, founded by S. Ramadoss on 16 July 1989, emerged from the Vanniyar reservation protests. Ahead of the 2004 elections, PMK joined the Democratic Progressive Alliance, a broad Tamil political front which also included the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Indian National Congress (INC), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Indian Union Muslim League. PMK was able to obtain a significant share of power both in the regional government in Tamil Nadu and the Central Government due to a significant number of seats they obtained which helped the United Progressive Alliance ( UPA-I ) to form the Government. Following the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the PMK joined the United Progressive Alliance led by the INC. In June 2008, during the final months of the bitter relationship between the DMK and the PMK, the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu severed its ties with the PMK, an outside supporter of the Karunanidhi Government. However, the DMK did not press for the party's removal from the UPA Government at the centre. On 26 March 2009, PMK declared that, it would join the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam ( AIADMK ) led front and left