Age limit, two-term cap: DMK passes 9 resolutions for organisational overhaul

Stalin acknowledges that the changes would be “stringent” and difficult for some to accept.

NEW DELHI: The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Saturday unveiled a structural overhaul of its organisation following its defeat in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in April, when it lost power after a single term.DMK’s executive committee, headed by party supremo and former chief minister MK Stalin, met at Anna Arivalayam, the party’s state headquarters in Chennai, and passed nine key resolutions aimed at radically restructuring the organisation.Addressing the meeting, Stalin acknowleded that the changes would be “stringent” and even “difficult” for some to accept.“The functioning of our party office-bearers is also one of the reasons for our defeat. We must first acknowledge our mistakes. We are going to make several changes in the party’s organisational structure. They will certainly be stringent, and for some, they may even be difficult to accept,” the former chief minister said.“Going forward, we are going to introduce age limits and terms of office for various organisational posts, according to the responsibilities involved. We are going to give a larger number of organisational responsibilities to newcomers. We can regain political success only by restructuring the party. We must carry out the organisational reforms as quickly as possible,” he added.Under the new blueprint, the DMK leadership has introduced strict age limits, a mandatory two-term cap for all posts and a major expansion of organisational districts, with the aim of professionalising party operations and facilitating generational succession.The DMK will increase the number of organisational districts from 78 to 110, with each district broadly covering two assembly constituencies to ensure more localised administration. Once Stalin formally releases the boundary maps for the 110 revamped districts, district executive committees will have to convene within 15 days under the supervision of the party headquarters to implement the transition.The standalone post of “city secretary” in major urban centres such as Coimbatore and Tambaram has also been abolished. Instead, urban zones will be redrawn based on voter density, with Chennai Corporation Area Committees averaging 40,000 voters and those in other corporations averaging 30,000 voters per committee.

Following Stalin’s defeat in his Kolathur Assembly constituency in Chennai, the DMK is now being led in the Tamil Nadu assembly by his son and former deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who is now serving as the leader of the opposition.