DMK functionaries have written to party president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, urging him not to hesitate in taking action against district secretaries who are being blamed for the party’s defeat in the Assembly election.
After the setback, the party’s field study team and restructuring committee reportedly recommended sweeping organisational changes. The DMK has decided to increase its district-level units from 78 to more than 120, and to realign responsibilities so that a district secretary oversees two to three Assembly constituencies.
Within the party, there is an expectation that long-serving district secretaries, senior leaders, and those seen as having hurt election work could be removed. However, the report says differences of opinion have emerged between Stalin, opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin and Stalin’s son-in-law Sabareesan over replacing district secretaries and appointing youth wing leaders.
The party leadership had indicated action would be taken by the first week of August, but the restructuring has not yet begun. The delay is being linked to the DMK’s “Mupperum Vizha” scheduled for September 15, after which Stalin is said to be planning the organisational overhaul.
In their letter, the functionaries questioned why there was still reluctance to act even days after the committees submitted their reports. They cited the removal of Erode district secretary Thoppu Venkatachalam and argued that a replacement should have been announced immediately, warning that fear of dissent or defections should not stall change and urging Stalin to directly intervene in appointments and “say goodbye” to old faces.
