DMK president M.K. Stalin has called for a swift restructuring of the party organisation, saying free and fair internal elections from the branch level to the party leadership would pave the way for new office-bearers and younger leaders.
Addressing a virtual meeting of the DMK headquarters representatives overseeing the party’s reorganisation, Stalin said the party had begun its “DMK 2.0” journey after examining the reasons for its setbacks in the recent election and taking steps to return to the path of victory.
He said the party had sought feedback from functionaries through field studies and from cadres online before constituting a reorganisation committee. Based on its recommendations, several resolutions were adopted by the party’s executive committee.
Stalin said 110 party districts were announced on August 28 and headquarters representatives were subsequently appointed to oversee the next stage of the restructuring exercise.
He asked the representatives to visit their assigned districts, preside over district executive committee meetings and obtain the views of all sections without discrimination or yielding to pressure. They were also instructed to form party units according to the guidelines framed by the reorganisation committee.
Stalin said elections would be held for party posts from the branch level to the leadership and stressed that they should be free and fair. He said this would enable new functionaries and younger leaders to take up responsibilities and help strengthen the party for the next 100 years.
He also said several functionaries could lose their existing posts due to age limits and restrictions on the number of terms they could serve. However, he assured that no one would be abandoned and that suitable alternative responsibilities would be considered based on their qualifications.
The representatives were asked to complete the restructuring of party units within 15 days after obtaining the consent of all concerned and submit the details to the headquarters. Stalin said the membership drive could begin only after the restructuring process was completed.
Stressing the importance of strengthening the party organisation, Stalin said, “Parties without principles and structure will come and go. Fireflies are not permanent; only the sun is permanent and will endure.”
He urged the representatives to strengthen the party organisation and continue its ideological journey, saying the work being undertaken today would become history tomorrow.
“Let us restructure the party. We will recover and win again,” Stalin said.
