Tamil Nadu: DMK Chief MK Stalin on Saturday announced a major reorganisation of the party's structure following its defeat in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly Election. Stalin stated that the party accepts the election outcome and highlighted that the working style of party office-holders was one of the factors behind the loss.
"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," Stalin said, emphasising that individual mistakes affect the entire 75-year-old party and calling for improved performance at all levels.
Describing the DMK as a "specialist" of comebacks, Stalin expressed confidence that the party will return to power and "give it back with interest and principal."
Age Limits, Tenure Caps, And District Expansion
As part of an organisational overhaul, Stalin has fixed age limits and capped the tenure for party office-bearers, along with expanding the total number of party districts. These measures aim to rebuild trust among youth and women following the party's defeat, NDTV reported.
"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 the sustainability of the DMK for the next 100 years. Our actions should be aimed at restoring trust among the youth and women. We are introducing age and term limits for party positions. Priority will be on new faces for party positions," Stalin stated.
Under the new rules approved by the party's executive committee for its 16th organisational elections:
- Age and Term Restrictions: Branch secretaries must be aged 45 or below and can serve for a maximum of two terms. District secretaries must be under 70 and may serve for a maximum of three terms.
- Grassroots Expansion in Urban Areas: A new branch-level structure and post of a branch secretary will be created in major municipal corporations, including Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, and Salem, with plans to later extend the system to other corporations.
- Expansion of Party Districts: Party district units will be expanded from 77 to 110. Revenue districts will be restructured so that each party district primarily covers two assembly constituencies. If only one constituency remains after reorganisation, it will be attached as a third constituency to another suitable party district within the same revenue district, the report added.
The party has authorised 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 all union, city, area, town, ward, and branch units within 15 days.
(With PTI Inputs)