DMK Holds Executive Meeting in Teynampet to Plan Party Restructuring

The DMK Executive Committee met on Saturday at the party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, in Chennai's Teynampet under the leadership of party president and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin.

Party leaders, including Udhayanidhi Stalin and O Panneerselvam, alongside former ministers, arrived at Kalaignar Hall inside the DMK headquarters to participate in the key organisational discussions.

The meeting was convened to review internal party structures following the DMK's defeat in the May Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, where the TVK emerged as the single largest party and formed the government with backing from smaller parties including Congress, VCK, and Left parties.

Party sources indicated that Stalin is set to expand the DMK's district units from 78 to over 100. The restructuring strategy also focuses on inducting and promoting women and youth into key organizational roles, alongside replacing underperforming local leaders across various districts.

The executive meeting comes amidst intense political debate in the state over the proposed delimitation exercise. DMK leaders have actively targeted the ruling TVK over its stance, with tensions surfacing during recent legislative proceedings.

On Friday, a political face-off took place in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, where Leader of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin questioned Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay over his position during the Southern Zonal Council meeting. Udhayanidhi noted that while the Assembly had passed a resolution to freeze Lok Sabha seats at 543, the Chief Minister omitted the specific term during the zonal gathering, pointing to a potential dilution of the demand.

Udhayanidhi stated that the DMK remains firm on seeking a total freeze on constituency redrawing, or at minimum preserving Tamil Nadu's current 7.18 per cent representation. In response, Minister Adhav Arjuna argued that the DMK had shifted its position over time, claiming the party had not previously insisted on capping seats at 543.