DMK GC meet: From Kanimozhi’s elevation to 2024 poll bugle

CHENNAI: The DMK general council on Sunday unanimously elected Chief Minister M K Stalin as the party president for the second term. The general council also elected State Irrigation Minister Duraimurugan and Parliamentary party leader TR Baalu as party general secretary and party treasurer.

Kanimozhi elevated as deputy gen secy

Moments after his election unopposed, Stalin announced the appointment of Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi among the five leaders as deputy general secretaries of the party. Kanimozhi, who heads the party’s women’s wing, replaces veteran Subbulakshmi Jagadeeshan, who quit the party recently. Minister I Periasamy, K Ponmudy, Nilgiris MP A Raja and Anthiyur Selvaraj are other deputy general secretaries of the party. State municipal administration minister KN Nehru was appointed party’s principal headquarters secretary again.

Sound poll bugle for 2024

The general council set the tone for the political battle of the DMK in the days to come. One after another, speakers at the DMK’s highest decision making body meeting issued a clarion call to fight the sanatanic forces. While DMK leader Pon Muthuramalingam and former minister Pongalur N Palanisamy were subtle in urging the Chief Minister to lead the fight against the Sanatanic forces, newly appointed deputy general secretary Kanimozhi Karunanidhi was conspicuous in her speech.

Starting her acceptance speech by describing president Stalin as the Tsunami that swept away the sanatanic forces that desired to see a vacuum in the DMK helm, Kanimozhi said, “Not even a 100 years have gone by since our children started getting educated. The Sanatanic forces are trying to deny access to education and lock our women back in the kitchen. By introducing entrance exams, they are forcing our children to return to our ancestral occupation. The fight against our leader is not just political, but an ideological one to secure our self respect, pride and rights. I see you in the position of father Kalaignar. Lead us.”

DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin struck a chord with his ‘aunt’ Kanimozhi when he appealed to the party chief to assign tasks for the 19 frontal wings of the party to secure a bigger victory than 2019 in the ensuing 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Central Chennai MP Dayanidhi Maran outdid his party colleagues and said, “It is not enough if you are the CM of the state. You should take a lead role for the whole country.”

Towing the same line, DMK deputy general secretary A Raja said, “Why is the BJP scared of the Dravidian model? A great danger is lurking over the Indian subcontinent. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah are nurturing some dreams after Kalaignar’s death. After Kalaignar, you are the force that can restrict the communal BJP. so lead us.”