MK Stalin Announces Massive Reboot For "Comeback Specialist" DMK In Tamil Nadu

DMK chief MK Stalin has announced a major reorganisation of the party structure, months after his party lost the assembly election that also cost him the chief minister's post.

Stalin said the party accepts that it lost the polls and there is no hiding that fact. He faulted the working style of the DMK's office-holders, among others, as the reason behind the party's defeat.

"Although there are several reasons for our defeat, the functioning of our party office-bearers is also one of them. There is no need for us to hide that. We must first acknowledge our mistakes. We must acknowledge them openly. Even if the mistake is committed by an individual, it is the 75-year-old party that suffers because of it," Stalin said, highlighting the need for every member of the party at all levels to perform well.

He said the DMK is a "specialist" of comebacks, and the party will surely return and "give it back with interest and principal."

The key changes Stalin brought are fixing age limits and putting a cap on the tenure of those who hold party positions.

"I have decided to bring many changes in the DMK's administrative structure. There will be harsh changes. A few will get disappointed over it but it will be for a good reason. I request everyone's cooperation. These will ensure sustainability of the DMK for the next 100 years. Our actions should be aimed at restoring trust by youth and women. We are introducing age and term limits for party positions. Priority will be on new faces for party positions," the former chief minister said.

The DMK's executive committee has also approved increasing the number of party districts from 77 to 110. The changes will be implemented as part of the DMK's 16th organisational elections. Under the new rules, branch secretaries must be aged 45 or below and can serve for a maximum of two terms.

In urban areas, a new branch-level structure and the post of branch secretary will be created. The system will initially be introduced in Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli and Salem and may later be extended to other corporations.

The most significant change is the expansion of district units from 77 to 110. Revenue districts will generally be reorganised so that each party district covers two assembly constituencies.

If only one constituency remains after reorganisation, it will be attached to another suitable party district within the same revenue district as a third constituency. District secretaries must be below 70 and may serve for a maximum of three terms.

The party has allowed Stalin to determine and announce the constituencies falling within each of the 110 units. Once the new districts are announced, district executive committees must meet and set up the union, city, area, town, ward and branch units within 15 days.