DMK likely to expand district units to 110 in major organisational overhaul

CHENNAI: The DMK is projected to announce a major restructuring of its organisational units, with the party anticipated to growth the number of district units from the existing strength of 78 to around 110, placing one district secretary in charge of two.

Notably, the announcement is projected to be produced at the party's executive committee session on Saturday, against the backdrop of growing demands within the organisation for the conduct of elections to various party posts and a revamp of the existing structure.

For context, the proposed expansion of district units is part of a broader exercise being considered by the party leadership after the loss in the 2026 Assembly elections. Under the proposed arrangement, district secretaries would have jurisdiction over fewer Assembly constituencies, with the objective of making the party's organisational structure more manageable and strengthening its presence at the constituency level.

Sources remarked the delay in announcing the new district secretaries was additionally linked to a review of the functioning of ministers and district secretaries during the previous DMK administration.

Meanwhile, a report prepared by party seniors as well DMK's strategy firm PEN is learnt to have been submitted to DMK president MK Stalin, detailing the performance of former ministers and district secretaries and the level of dissatisfaction among party functionaries in a number of districts.

"The report has recommended changes in several districts, citing data and feedback on the functioning of incumbents, " sources privy to the report remarked.As part of the restructuring exercise, the party's reorganisation committee has reportedly suggested moving senior district secretaries aged above 70 to state- or zonal-level responsibilities.

It has additionally proposed limiting the jurisdiction of district secretaries to a minimum of two and a maximum of three Assembly constituencies.Another source close to the party leadership stated that another proposal under consideration was to appoint youth wing functionaries as district secretaries.

Party sources additionally stated a senior leader in the rank of deputy general secretary had additionally suggested conducting organisational elections from the branch level to the party headquarters.

For now, DMK likely to expand district units to 110 in major organisational overhaul remains the part of the story worth watching, and further updates are likely as more details are confirmed.