Going back in time, Balija-Nayaks of Telugu-Kannada origins were a warrior-mechant caste, that held infliuence since the Chozha periods. Common sur-names were Nayak, Naidu, Rao and even Reddy.
Some say that Vijayanagar empire was founded by Kannadigas Harihara and Bukka; and some say they were Telugu generals of Kakatiya king, Pratapa Rudra. The Kannada empire however, patronised Telugu language.
The empire used Telugu Balija generals and Telugu Niyogi Brahmins to control Tamizh regions. Native Tamil Brahmins and Vellalars were also used alongside.
Tanjore and Madurai Balija Nayak administrators broke free from the empire, and indedpendently ruled Tamizh regions for over 200 years - in the 16th and 17th centuries. They were then defeated by the Marathas. Nayak descendants were the last dynasty to rule, the Sri Lankan kingdom of Kandy.
The Telugu Nayaks would appoint Telugu families as rulers and zamindars in Tamizh nadu. This made these families very rich and powerful - like PSG group of Coimbatore.
These Telugu zamindars enjoyed power in the British period too. Out of 10 Chief Ministers of the Madras Presidency, 6 were from Telugu non-brahmin families and 2 were from Telugu Brahmin families.
The infamous Keezhvenmani massacre's chief perpeterator was Gopalakrishnan Naidu, a Telugu zamindar.
E V Ramaswamy Naicker of the Dravidian movement himself was a Kannada Balija, from a rich zamindar family. Karunanidhi is also of Telugu ancestry.
Vijayakanth, the famous Tamil actor and politician was again a Telugu Balija.
Telugu Brahmins too wielded much influence.
Gopanna the Vijayanagar army general who defeated the Madurai Sultanate was a Niyogi Brahmin.
Founder of RSS, Keshav Baliram Hegdewar was a Telugu Brahmin. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan and P V Narasimha Rao were also Niyogi Brahmins. Subramaniam Swamy has Telugu origins.
Even the powerful Namboodris of Kerala, are said to have split off from Telugu Brahmins.
Tamil Dravidian politics is actually a Telugu power struggle, reddit India speaks
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