DMK Approves Organisational Overhaul Setting Term and Age Limits for District Chiefs

In Chennai, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) high-level executive committee has approved a major organisational revamp, introducing an age ceiling and term limits for district secretaries following the party's defeat in the recent Assembly election. DMK president and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin informed party office-bearers of the proposed changes during an executive committee meeting on Saturday.

The new regulations were drafted and submitted by a revamp committee headed by former Minister Thangam Thennarasu. Under the approved recommendations, an individual can serve as a district secretary for a maximum of three terms. In addition, the upper age limit for holding the post has been fixed at 70 years. The party leadership stated that the rules are designed to infuse new blood into the organisation and provide more opportunities for youth and women.

The revamp committee also recommended expanding the party's organisational structure by increasing the number of district units from 77 to 110. With 33 new units being created and existing incumbents stepping aside, the party expects approximately 55 new faces to take charge as district secretaries, replacing roughly 50% of the current leadership at the district level.

Party sources indicated that as many as 22 of the existing 77 district secretaries are ineligible to continue in office or contest the upcoming internal elections under the new eligibility criteria.

The combined restrictions on age and tenure will rule several veteran party leaders and former Ministers out of contention for district secretary posts. Those affected include K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, Anitha Radhakrishnan, P. Moorthy, S. Muthusamy, T.M. Anbarasan, M.R.K. Panneerselvam, K.R. Periyakaruppan, S. Regupathy, former Speaker R. Avudaiappan, Theni Ramakrishnan, S.R. Sivalingam of Salem, Gingee Masthan, R. Gandhi, Sundar of Kancheepuram, former Kumbakonam MLA Sakkottai Anbazhagan, and Tiruvarur MLA Poondi S. Kalaivanan.

While addressing the executive committee, Mr. Stalin observed that although multiple factors contributed to the party's recent electoral defeat, the performance of party functionaries was one of the reasons. The DMK is scheduled to launch a membership drive during its annual Mupperum Vizha in September, after which organisational elections will be held at various levels, culminating in the appointment of state-level office-bearers.