Chennai: To bolster DMK’s standing in areas where it is perceived to have weak footing and enhance its electoral prospects, DMK on Thursday commenced restructuring its organisational framework, including sacking of five district secretaries and forming four district units.
Following the recommendations of chief minister M K Stalin, the governor’s office announced allocation of khadi and village industries portfolio, previously held by R S Raja Kannappan, to forest minister K Ponmudy.
In Erode, where AIADMK is facing internal dissent, DMK appointed former AIADMK minister Thoppu N D Venkatachalam to lead the newly formed Erode Central district unit. Venkatachalam’s responsibilities cover Bhavani and Perunthurai assembly constituencies, previously managed by minister S Muthusamy and N Nallasivam respectively.
Venkatachalam served as AIADMK’s Erode district secretary for eight years. “Fulfilling the responsibilities aligned with the party high command’s expectations is my foremost duty,” Venkatachalam told TOI.
DMK also made significant changes in Villupuram district. Former AIADMK MP R Lakshmanan, who joined DMK in 2020, will head the newly formed Villupuram Central district unit. This appointment is seen as an attempt to consolidate the vanniyar vote base. Villupuram and Vanur assembly constituencies, previously under the charge of Ponmudy’s son and former LS member Gautham Sigamani, fall within the district. Lakshmanan defeated AIADMK strongman C Ve Shanmugam in the assembly election after he switched to DMK. “Additional portfolio allocated to Ponmudy is only to balance the changes effected in the district unit,” said a DMK source. Former minister Ginjee K S Masthan has been reinstated as Villupuram North district secretary. He lost this position last year, along with his ministerial role, following complaints from local partymen and disagreements with Ponmudy camp.
“This reinstatement, along with appointment of M Abdul Wahab for Tirunelveli Central, demonstrates DMK’s focus on increasing minority representation,” said a senior leader. Wahab is the Palayamkottai MLA. Tirupur West and Tirupur North district units have been created.
Minister M P Saminathan, who previously helmed the unified Tirupur district unit a decade ago and succeeded Stalin as youth wing secretary in 2017, will lead Tirupur West. Tiruppur Mayor N Dinesh Kumar has been chosen to head Tirupur North. Dinesh Kumar’s appointment is considered a move to provide representation to the younger generation.