Summary: In a proactive move ahead of the imminent Lok Sabha elections, the DMK leadership has taken action by replacing two key district secretaries. Chief Minister Stalin's stern warning during an office bearers' meeting last October emphasized the party's unwavering commitment to performance accountability. The leadership's decision to appoint 234 constituency in-charges underscores their dedication to ensuring the party's success in the elections.
The party leadership appointed constituency in-charges to monitor booth-level operations, indicating a focused approach towards electoral success and addressing internal challenges.
Concerns were raised regarding the effectiveness of district secretaries such as Ilaiya Aruna and Kunnam Rajendran, leading to their replacement due to various reasons including poor performance and external interference.
The involvement of Udhayanidhi's team in the reshuffles suggests a concerted effort to rejuvenate the party structure and revitalize grassroots operations.
As the elections draw nearer, significant transformations are anticipated across various districts, indicating the DMK's commitment to fortifying its electoral prospects under dynamic leadership.
Chief Minister Stalin's recent admonition at an office bearers' meeting underscored the party's uncompromising stance on performance accountability. Stalin's firm directive emphasized that failure to secure victory for the party's candidates would result in the removal of district secretaries and ministers, irrespective of seniority.
"If our candidate loses in your constituency, you cannot continue as your district secretary and minister. I don't consider seniority or juniority. The individual in question will undoubtedly be relieved of their position," exclaimed Chief Minister Stalin with notable anger during the office bearers' meeting held in October last year.
Despite an extensive number of obstacles within the DMK, such as legal disputes involving ministers and local council members, the party's hierarchy has taken a stance to strengthen control and guarantee that the approaching parliamentary election is not taken lightly.
As a result, the party's leadership has moved ahead of schedule and designated 234 constituency in-charges to supervise the appointment of booth agents in assembly constituencies for the next Lok Sabha elections.
These appointed persons are in charge of assessing the state of the constituency and sending in reports on a weekly basis. A number of meetings have already been held to discuss the operational aspects of the operating of the booth level.
During a gathering of executives in October, he emphasized, "You must work diligently to retain your position. It is your dedication to party duties that will safeguard your role. The party's success holds greater significance to me than any individual. This Lok Sabha election outweighs the importance of the Assembly elections to me. I have no intention of retaining anyone in office who does not strive for success."
Stalin had asserted firmly, "Our candidates must secure victory in all 40 seats. In the event of defeat, ministers and district secretaries from the constituency cannot retain their positions, regardless of seniority. The post will be granted to those who emerge victorious."
Subsequently, following the meeting, numerous MPs intensified their efforts in party activities. However, despite these efforts, the leadership opted to remove MPs who were progressing at a sluggish pace in their party duties.
Accordingly, the leadership has taken decisive action by dismissing two district secretaries. We reached out to some DMK seniors for insights into this development.
Apart from striving to secure victory in all 40 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the leadership is diligently laying the groundwork for success in the 2026 Assembly elections.
This proactive approach is evident in the initiation of membership enrollment, surveys, and candidate selection by the booth committee since the previous year. The leadership has unequivocally warned of replacing ministers and functionaries who fail to fulfill their duties effectively.
However, Chennai North District DMK Secretary Ilaiya Aruna failed to meet the leadership's expectations. Despite being entrusted with the responsibility, Aruna neglected crucial tasks such as appointing office bearers and forming booth committees in the RK Nagar, Royapuram, and Perambur assembly constituencies.
Complaints were lodged against Aruna's perceived subservience to Minister Sekar Babu, prompting the leadership to intervene. Despite being appointed due to familial ties, Aruna's performance fell short of expectations, leading to his removal. Perambur MLA R D Sekar has since been appointed as the new MP with a clear directive from the leadership - performance is paramount.
Similarly, Perambalur district secretary Kunnam Rajendran cited age-related limitations for his inability to fulfill party duties effectively.
Allegations of interference from DMK MP A Raja further complicated matters, prompting the leadership to appoint a new in-charge, V Jagadeesan, on Raja's recommendation.
Youth wing secretary and minister Udhayanidhi played a pivotal role in these reshuffles and the appointment of new office bearers, ensuring alignment with the leader's directives. As the elections draw nearer, significant transformations are anticipated across various districts under the dynamic leadership of the DMK.