DMK plans major organisational overhaul following election defeat
The DMK is preparing for a major restructuring of its party organisation in Tamil Nadu, with proposed age caps, term limits, new opportunities for younger leaders and a redrawing of party districts.
The decisions follow an internal assessment of the party’s organisational functioning and its electoral performance. Several resolutions were adopted at the DMK Executive Committee meeting at Anna Arivalayam in Chennai on August 22.
Under the proposed changes, branch secretaries will have to be 45 or younger and can serve a maximum of two terms. The party also plans to create additional branches in the corporation areas of Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Salem, besides other cities where expansion is considered necessary.
Ward secretaries in corporations, municipalities and town panchayats will have a maximum age of 50 and a two-term ceiling. The proposed structure also sets the upper age limit for town panchayat, area, municipal, union and city-level secretaries at 60, with two terms permitted for the latter categories.
The party intends to reorganise its district structure around revenue districts. The proposed formula would create one party district for every two Assembly constituencies. Where an administrative division leaves a single constituency, it could be attached to another party district within the same revenue district.
District secretaries would face a maximum age of 70 and a two-term limit. The existing Chennai/Corporation district secretary arrangement is also proposed to be discontinued.
The changes could lead to several senior functionaries losing their organisational posts. Party sources have mentioned leaders including EV Velu and MR Gandhi in connection with the possible retirement of older office-bearers, although the final decisions are yet to be announced.
The party is expected to begin the restructuring after MK Stalin announces the proposed 110 party districts. Local units at the union, city, area and ward levels would then have 15 days to complete their reorganisation under headquarters guidelines.
Women’s representation also emerged as an issue during the meeting. A representative of the DMK women’s wing reportedly called for 33% reservation for women in party leadership positions, citing the party’s role in promoting women’s reservation in public institutions. No decision was taken on the proposal.
Meanwhile, attention is also focused on the selection of new district secretaries. Reports quoting sources close to Udhayanidhi Stalin said a team working under him has been evaluating potential candidates using factors such as social representation, public popularity and other organisational data.
The proposed overhaul is understood to be linked to the findings of a 36-member committee appointed by the DMK to study the party’s performance across Tamil Nadu. Its report reportedly identified internal disagreements, inadequate supervision and accountability issues involving district-level leadership as some of the factors behind setbacks in various districts.