The DMK has approved a major organisational revamp, setting a maximum age of 70 and a three-term limit for district secretaries, in a move party leaders say will bring in younger leadership. The decision was taken at an executive committee meeting chaired by party president M.K. Stalin on Saturday, and affects the party's cadre across Tamil Nadu.
New rules for district secretaries
The new guidelines, which apply to the party's district-level leadership, also cap the tenure of district secretaries at three terms, as reported by both The Times of India and The Hindu. The changes come after the party's defeat in the recent state assembly election, with Stalin saying the performance of party functionaries was one of the reasons for the loss.
Under the new structure, the number of organisational districts will increase from 77 to 110, with one district for every two assembly constituencies. The Hindu reported that 22 of the existing 77 district secretaries are ineligible to continue under the new rules. The Times of India said several former ministers, including E V Velu, Anitha R Radhakrishnan, S Muthusamy, S Regupathy and R Gandhi, are among those expected to lose their posts.
Broader restructuring and age limits
The restrictions extend beyond district secretaries. Branch secretaries will be limited to two terms and must be 45 or younger, according to The Times of India. Town panchayat, town and area secretaries face an age cap of 60 and a two-term limit, while ward secretaries must be 50 or younger and can serve a maximum of two terms. Union secretaries are also capped at 60 and limited to two terms, with one union unit for every 30,000 voters.
The party has formed a 38-member team to collect feedback from cadres and district-level functionaries, and a 10-member committee headed by former minister Thangam Thennarasu has been constituted to recommend structural changes based on that feedback, The Times of India reported.
Leadership and next steps
A senior DMK leader was quoted by The Times of India as saying, "Party leadership was very aggressive in reducing the age limit. The age criteria were fixed following complaints received from cadres and the public, both online and offline." Former MLA N. Ezhilan called the move a "historic step" that will "ensure the party remains strong for the next 50 years."
District executive committee meetings are expected to be held within a fortnight to finalise union, town, area and ward-level structures, according to both reports.
The Hindu reported that the revamp process is expected to culminate in the appointment of state-level office-bearers. A membership drive is likely to be announced during the party's annual Mupperum Vizha in September.