DMK workers press for election process revamp

Workers urge the leadership to nominate members to posts in the districts and not hold elections as only very few are able to win

DMK treasurer M.K. Stalin interacts with the women's wing functionaries in Coimbatore on Friday. Photo: K. Ananthan

DMK office-bearers who met the party treasurer, M.K. Stalin, in groups at closed-door meetings on Friday urged him to revamp the election process.

Mr. Stalin was here to meet the office-bearers of the youth wing, the women’s wing, the students’ wing and the branch and division units to find out how to go about rejuvenating and strengthening the party in readiness for the 2016 Assembly elections. The party could not win even a single seat in the Lok Sabha elections in the State.

Sources said various units wanted Mr. Stalin or the leadership to nominate members to posts in the districts and not hold elections as only very few were able to win, that too, by manipulation: they ensured the victory of their supporters in the lower level units to tap into their support. This created groups and factions.

Growth curtailed

The holding of elections appeared to showcase the inner party democracy, but it only strengthened the hands a few and curtailed the growth of a number of workers. But appointment of people on condition that a person could not hold office for more than two consecutive terms would push the office-bearers to work for the party.

The sources said that if the party nominated people to posts in the districts, it would help to create a system in which functionaries would work hard to earn the posts.

Poor reach among students

The participants also highlighted the poor reach of the party among students and youth. They also told him about the successful propaganda machinery the AIADMK had to reach out to the people. They also suggested that more opportunities be given to youth wing members in the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.