T R Baalu is Parliamentary party leader

Baalu, who won the Sriperumbudur constituency, was chosen in the meeting of newly elected party MPs, held at the party headquarters here on Saturday. Kanimozhi, who was elected from Thoothukudi, has been appointed the party’s deputy leader in Lok Sabha. Former Telecom Minister A Raja would be the party whip in the lower house, while his former cabinet colleague S S Palanimanickam (Thanjavur) would be the treasurer.

The DMK has also changed its leadership in the Rajya Sabha following the election of Kanimozhi, who was the party leader in the Upper House, to Lok Sabha. DMK propaganda secretary ‘Tiruchy’ Siva will replace her, while T K S Elangovan would be the party whip. The MPs also resolved that they would work as per the five principles laid down by the late M Karunanidhi, namely to reclaim the rights of TN, uphold social justice, promote equality, safeguard secularism and let real democracy flourish in the country.