Cauvery protests put DMK revamp on backburner

But for it, the DMK would have been scrutinising the performance of at least a few functionaries, mainly district secretaries. DMK working president MK Stalin had constituted a three-member panel headed by former union minister TR Baalu to revamp the party in mid-February. The committee was asked to be table a report on simplifying the functioning of the party besides reorganising some of its districts before March 20. However, the Cauvery imbroglio has offered the much-needed breather to the regional satraps to make amends. 

According to insiders, the party is in no mood to disturb the existing functionaries now. “The ruling AIADMK and BJP are being targeted by all. If we reprimand some of our leaders, it will not only disturb the momentum, unnecessarily, in the party but also shift the focus from the ruling AIADMK to our party,” said a DMK leader. “High command is keen on making changes, but the timing is not suitable and hence the party has decided to go slow on the revamping exercise,” a party source added. The leadership may also have been influenced by murmurs about some disgruntled seniors like KN Nehru being approached by rivals, including TTV Dhinakaran. The leaders were unhappy with the push being given to ‘newcomers’ and are waiting for the verdict on MLAs disqualification case.