DMK plans to expand district units to over 100 in organisational revamp
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is likely to increase its district-level organisational units from the current 79 to more than 100, according to party sources. The move is part of a larger restructuring exercise aimed at rejuvenating the party's grassroots structure.
Sources said a committee constituted by party president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin to study organisational reforms has submitted an interim report. The party's executive committee is scheduled to meet on August 22 to discuss the recommendations.
“The recommendations will have to be incorporated into the party constitution to give effect to the proposed changes,” a source said, indicating that the restructuring requires formal approval.
The committee includes former Ministers Thangam Thennarasu, Geetha Jeevan, R. Sakkarapani, S.S. Sivasankar, and Tamilarasi Ravikumar; MP Murasoli; former MP M.M. Abdullah; former MLAs I. Paranthaman and Dr. Ezhilan; and party functionary S.K.P. Karuna.
One of the key recommendations is to bring younger members and more women into leadership roles, particularly as district secretaries of the newly created units. “There should be wider representation to make the organisation more effective,” a source said.
The proposed expansion is seen as an effort to strengthen the party's presence in areas where it has traditionally been weak, and to better connect with voters ahead of future elections. However, party leaders have not yet publicly commented on the specifics of the plan.
The DMK, which currently governs Tamil Nadu, has a history of periodic organisational overhauls. The move to create more district units is expected to allow for more localised decision-making and improve communication between the party's central leadership and its grassroots workers.
Political analysts note that increasing the number of units could also create new opportunities for aspiring leaders, while posing challenges in terms of managing a larger organisational structure. The final decision on the number of units and the selection of secretaries will be taken after the executive committee meeting.
