CHENNAI: The DMK has created 18 organisational districts in the Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chennai and Chengalpattu (KTCC) region as part of its efforts to regain lost ground in an area that was once considered a stronghold of the 75-year-old party.

The KTCC region has 37 Assembly constituencies. In the last Assembly election, the DMK, the principal Opposition party, lost its hold over the region, with the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) winning a majority of the seats.

"Considering the poll debacle and the upcoming local body polls, the party has decided to strengthen the KTCC region. Owing to this, 18 districts have been created in the region," a party leader said.

Before the latest restructuring, the DMK had 11 organisational districts in the KTCC region. Chennai has 16 Assembly constituencies, for which the party has created 10 organisational districts.

Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur have 7 and 10 Assembly constituencies, respectively, with the DMK creating 3 organisational districts in each. Kancheepuram, one of the party's traditional strongholds in the region, has four Assembly constituencies and has been divided into two organisational districts.

The restructuring is expected to be followed by efforts to strengthen the party's grassroots network in the newly created organisational districts. It is also likely to pave the way for fresh appointments at the district level and create opportunities for younger party functionaries ahead of the local body elections.

The exercise aims to improve coordination between the party's organisational units and Assembly constituencies and to strengthen its electoral machinery in the region.