DMK to commence membership drive on June 20
Chennai: The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) will begin its state-wide membership drive on June 20, as part of a major organisational initiative ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin will personally meet party functionaries from all 234 Assembly constituencies as part of the programme titled 'Udanpirappe Vaa'.
The initiative was announced by DMK organisation secretary R.S. Bharathi, who confirmed that Stalin plans to complete these constituency-level interactions before the party's annual Mupperum Vizha celebrations scheduled for September 17.
Under this programme, Stalin will interact directly with grassroots-level party workers -- excluding district secretaries, whom he will meet separately.
The meetings are being held at the party headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, in Chennai. The first session took place on Friday, where Stalin met functionaries from Chidambaram, Villupuram, and Usilampatti constituencies.
Sharing a message on X, Stalin wrote, 'To reach out to the people with the achievements of the government, to defeat those who are desperate to bring down Tamil Nadu, and to boost the party's robust structure -- Udanpirappe Vaa.'
The Chief Minister is being accompanied during these interactions by a panel that includes R.S. Bharathi, party spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan, joint organisation secretary Anbagam Kalai, and deputy organisation secretaries S. Austin and Thayagam Kavi.
Each meeting was originally planned to last five minutes, but several interactions were extended as Stalin engaged actively with the cadre.
According to party sources, Stalin came prepared with detailed performance reports of each functionary, which formed the basis for his questions and discussions. He also sought suggestions and feedback to strengthen preparations for the 2026 Assembly polls.
In a notable gesture, each participant received a signed copy of Stalin's autobiography 'Ungalil Oruvan' during the meeting. An 'opinion box' has been placed at the venue to collect written feedback from those who wish to share ideas or concerns they were unable to voice during the meeting.
'We will carefully review all the inputs we receive,' Bharathi said.
Stalin also reportedly enquired about the level of coordination between local functionaries and district secretaries, indicating a focus on improving intra-party communication.
The next round of meetings will resume on June 17.
Stalin is expected to be in Thanjavur on June 15 and 16 for official engagements. The DMK president has already urged party cadres to intensify efforts at the grassroots level and ensure that the INDIA bloc secures at least 200 of the 234 Assembly seats in the next state elections.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Indian Express
Shifting sands of Nilambur fray: Vijayan pick vs Cong stalwart's legacy vs ‘spoiler'
Nilambur is dripping in rain. It is quite a while since Kerala saw a wet election and like a well-begun monsoon gone awry, the bypoll in the Nilambur constituency seems to be turning less and less predictable. The state Assembly is into its slog overs – and this by-election wasn't meant to shake the earth, just set the tone for the coming big polls due early next year. The campaign was being watched more for its atmospherics than the outcome. The Opposition Congress-led UDF was a clear favourite here. Its candidate Aryadan Shoukath is a second-generation leader from a steadfast Congress family of this old Malabar teak town with considerable Muslim presence. His late father Aryadan Mohammad had won eight times as an MLA from here, going on to serve as a minister, and a trouble-shooter, in the erstwhile Congress-led coalition regime. Shoukath nurtured his father's formidable political legacy. As head of the Nilambur Municipality and before it was upgraded the panchayat, he caught national attention for his literacy, child welfare and health schemes. His support base includes Adivasis, who departed from custom and came down from the hills to attend his daughter's wedding in 2015. Many believed that Shoukath would have a smooth sailing in the bypoll. But what appeared to be a walkover is now looking like a contest, thanks to rival candidate M Swaraj of the ruling CPI(M). Handpicked by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, the choice 'cannot go wrong', say comrades. Several leaders from the CPI(M)-led LDF speak in unison for their chief, who seeks next year a third successive term, an uphill task in the shifty state. The June 19 Nilambur bypoll is no bellwether but its sheer proximity to the Assembly polls has pepped up the campaigns of the key contenders. That the CPI(M) is on overdrive is evident in the briefest of pit stops. In Pothukkallu panchayat at Kuttamkulam Kunnu, a tiny spot beyond the state highway and the Google map, Swaraj's roadshow has a ten-minute stop which cannot be better packaged. What follows could be the envy of event managers. In all of three minutes, the candidate is ceremonially ushered in by a percussion ensemble in traditional temple wear and serially garlanded by senior comrades. Next, he makes his two-minute campaign pitch and stops abruptly to direct a local talent to croon a one-minute snatch from the eternal Communist hymn for martyrdom, 'Balikuteerangale'. Within seconds, a box of sweets pops up and is emptied in no time, provoking a punchline from Swaraj: 'Ladoos are already here. We have won.' Earlier in the day, the Congress candidate's campaign looked less organised but more free flowing. At street meetings in his home turf, Shoukath slips out of his car almost unnoticed and instantly merges with clusters of voters many of whom he seems to know by first name. More than handshakes, he hugs and that gives him extra proximity to the voter ear into which he whispers. The hush-hush adds a certain mystique to the personal contact. After this, his amplified articulation from the makeshift dais is a mere formality. Shoukath is no pushover, says an insider who pauses to caution that there is a potential 'spoiler' in the fray, P V Anvar, the previous legislator whose resignation necessitated the byoll. Spurned by the state's two major fronts, the well-connected businessman-turned-politician, Anvar, contesting again as an Independent, has put up text-heavy hoardings that list in bullet points his pique and promise. Barely anyone halts to look up and read through the frozen power point presentation, though. Otherwise, it would have caused traffic snarls in this hilly terrain. A recurring presence on the winding roads is the BJP-led NDA's decked up vehicle seeking votes for its candidate Mohan George. Recorded audio plays in loop and the vehicle is empty but for the dutiful soul at the wheel. The BJP, led by state unit head Rajeev Chandrasekhar, must be keen to cross the Vindhyas, but that may not happen hurriedly across the Nilambur hills.
New Indian Express
2 hours ago
- New Indian Express
Stalin slams Israel's attacks on Iran as 'reckless act of aggression'; urges world to step in
Stalin also highlighted Israel's ongoing genocidal war on Gaza and urged the world to step in and push for restraint and justice. "Coupled with the continued bombardment of Gaza and suffering of Palestinian civilians, this violent path must be condemned," Stalin wrote. "The world must push for restraint, justice, and meaningful diplomacy," he added. Israel attacked Iran on June 13, killing its top military officials and at least nine senior scientists linked to its nuclear program, igniting a fresh conflict in the region. At least 60 civilians, including 20 children, were also killed as Israel struck a residential building in Tehran. Iran's retaliatory attacks killed at least 8 Israelis, including a child. Meanwhile, Israel's ongoing genocidal war on Gaza has so far killed more than 55,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children. Israel has also targeted and killed health care workers, aid workers and journalists in Gaza. It is also accused of using starvation as a "weapon" against the 2 million Palestinian population in Gaza, as it has been blocking humanitarian assistance from entering the war-ravaged territory.
New Indian Express
3 hours ago
- New Indian Express
CPI-backed farmers union unhappy over Tamil Nadu govt's paddy MSP
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Farmers Association, affiliated to the CPI, a DMK ally, has expressed disappointment over the state government's recent announcement of incentive above the minimum support price (MSP) for paddy procurement. In a joint statement, the association's president S Gunasekaran and general secretary and former MLA P S Masilamani, said the incentive announced by Chief Minister MK Stalin on June 12 fell short of expectations of the farmers. The statement recalled that at a government function in Salem, Stalin had announced that for the 2025 procurement season, Grade A paddy will be bought at Rs 2,545 per quintal (including Rs 156 as an incentive), while common variety will be procured at Rs 2,500 (including Rs 131 incentive). The association said this contradicted the DMK's 2021 poll promise to offer Rs 2,500 per quintal as the base price, not inclusive of incentives. With input costs rising and other states like Chhattisgarh offering up to Rs 3,120 per quintal, the association urged the CM to raise the procurement price to at least Rs 3,000 per quintal.
