After BJP, Congress trumps up Dalit support in Tamil Nadu

To counter BJP's attempts to lure Dalit voters in Tamil Nadu for next year's Lok Sabha polls, Congress is also reaching out to the community in the hope of reviving the party which has been relegated to the role of an alliance partner to Dravidian parties.

On Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi met film director Pa Ranjith, a prominent Dalit face who has used his movies, such as Rajinikanth-starrer Kaala, to espouse the cause of Dalits, in New Delhi on Tuesday. Before Ranjith, Rahul met Dalit party Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi president Thol Thirumavalavan in May.

After the meeting, Ranjith tweeted he had had an important meeting with the Congress chief and they discussed caste and religious bias that threatens the core of the secular constitution.

"Looking forward to our discussion taking shape. A national leader engaging with people from all ideologies is very encouraging!" he tweeted.

Though Dalits constitute 20 per cent of the state population, they remain a marginalised community, with both AIADMK and DMK giving them token representation