CHENNAI: The DMK on Thursday named a committee of six functionaries to examine different proposals for restructuring the party.
The DMK’s apex forum, the high level strategy committee, had on June 2 decided to form such a panel, in the wake of the party’s dismal performance in the recent Lok Sabha polls.
The committee will consist of Thangam Thennarasu, KS Radhakrishnan, PS Tiruvengadam, TS Kalyanasundaraam, R Rajamanikam and SLT Sachidanandham. While Thangam, son of party veteran Thennarasu, served as School Education Minister in the previous DMK regime and is presently the MLA for Tiruchuli constituency, Radhakrishnan is a lawyer conversant with working of the party.
The committee has been tasked with examining various proposals for the restructuring and streamlining of the party structure. It would have to make a recommendation to the party leadership, which would then decide on the way forward.
Sources in the party have denied that the long-talked about restructuring of the party has been expedited because of the Lok Sabha election defeat.
“There are a number of things. The restructuring becomes necessary, especially in the southern districts, thanks to the fallout with Alagiri,” a party senior told Express.
“Another reason is the need to shake-up the rank and file, as things are pretty much taken for granted that such and such a person will hold such and such a post till his death. The party is in the process of a generational shift, and this has to be reflected in the structure as well,” he added.
The party senior, a former MP, also said that the new structure would have to create more room for the cultivation of a second rung leadership for the future.
During his birthday speech, party patriarch M Karunanidhi had painted an ominous picture, that some major decisions had been made at the June 2 meeting, and that the announcements would be made soon.