Latest news with #DesiyaMurpokkuDravidaKazhagam
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
DMDK to clarify stand on Rajya Sabha poll on June 9
Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant on Tuesday said that there was still time for the Rajya Sabha polls, and that she would clarify the party's position at its public rally on June 9. Speaking to reporters, Ms. Premallatha said, 'Patience is bigger than the sea. Please wait. We will clarify everything.' She further said that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin should clarify the reasons behind his visit to New Delhi to participate in the NITI Ayog meeting for the first time in years. 'If Tamil Nadu and Tamil people benefit due to his visit, we welcome it. But the Chief Minister must clarify why exactly he went to New Delhi,' she said.
The Print
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
TN seeing another political ‘son rise'. How DMDK's pinning revival hopes on founder Vijayakanth's son
She said she was handing over the legacy of Captain (Vijayakanth) to her son, who will lead the party's youth to take the 'Captain's vision' to every corner of Tamil Nadu. The move was announced by his mother and DMDK general secretary, Premalatha Vijayakanth, Wednesday at the party's first general body meeting since the actor-politician died in late 2023. Chennai: Tamil Nadu is witnessing another political 'son rise'. The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) has named V. Vijaya Prabhakaran—son of late actor-politician Vijayakanth—as the secretary of its youth wing in a bid to rejuvenate the party ahead of the 2026 assembly election. Addressing party workers at the meeting, Vijaya Prabhakaran reiterated this. 'Captain's dream was a Tamil Nadu where every voice is heard, and I am here to fight for that dream with all of you,' he said. As Tamil Nadu heads toward a contentious 2026 assembly election—amid growing murmurs of anti-incumbency against the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), an AIADMK-BJP alliance on the rise, and actor-turned-politician Vijay emerging as a challenger—the DMDK is seeking to reclaim its political relevance. The elevation of Vijaya Prabhakaran is a strategic move by the party in that direction. Analysts say Vijaya Prabhakaran's appointment might give a new lease of life to the party if he can take forward the legacy of his father and DMDK founder Vijayakanth. Political analyst N. Sathiya Moorthy said it isn't an easy task because Vijayakanth built his image after working in the cinema industry for decades. 'Vijayakanth was a cinematic icon-turned-political maverick who challenged Tamil Nadu's Dravidian duopoly with his populist ideals. It may not be easy to fill his place in the cinema as well as in politics,' Sathiya Moorthy told ThePrint. 'But if Vijaya Prabhakaran is able to get the confidence of the party workers, that will be good enough for the party's growth.' Vijaya Prabhakaran's appointment as the DMDK Youth Wing Secretary is the latest in a string of cases of dynastic succession in Tamil Nadu politics. This mirrors a broader pattern in Tamil Nadu politics—seen in the ruling DMK, where leadership passed from former chief minister M. Karunanidhi to his son, current CM M.K. Stalin, and now to his grandson, Deputy CM Udhayanidhi. A similar transition occurred in the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), where Anbumani Ramadoss succeeded his father and party founder S. Ramadoss as leader. L.K. Sudhish, Vijayakanth's brother-in-law and former youth wing secretary, was also appointed as DMDK's treasurer in the general body meeting, where 10 resolutions were passed, including one granting Premalatha Vijayakanth full authority to decide on the DMDK's alliance strategy. At the end of the general body meeting, Premalatha announced that the party would organise a grand conference in January 2026 at Cuddalore during which it may announce its alliance strategy. Also read: As 2 ministers resign, Stalin applies poll arithmetic in Tamil Nadu cabinet reshuffle ahead of 2026 Who is Vijaya Prabhakaran For much of his life, 38-year-old Vijaya Prabhakaran remained in the shadow of his father, Vijayakanth. But after Vijayakanth's death in 2023, he stepped into the spotlight, contesting the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Virudhunagar as part of the AIADMK alliance. 'Although our leader did not win the election, his campaign style showcased his eagerness and willingness to work for the people, a quality of his father that attracted the masses,' R. Senthil, a senior DMDK functionary, told ThePrint. Senthil also said that Vijaya Prabhakaran had many of his father's traits. 'He is equally enthusiastic as his father. Though quieter, he's still very approachable. He listens to the cadres and understands the problems of grassroot-level workers, which helped him during the Lok Sabha election as well,' Senthil said. Sources in the DMDK also told ThePrint that Vijaya Prabhakaran will go on a state-wide tour starting next month and conclude it at the party's conference in January 2026. According to senior party leaders, the aim to send Vijaya Prabhakaran across the state is to inspire the DMDK's politically active young supporters and strengthen the party's grassroots network by amplifying Vijakanth's legacy of people-centric politics. 'His statewide tour will help the party gauge its strength before we join hands with any alliance in the state. It might also change the electoral prospects of the party,' a senior party leader said to ThePrint. 'The move is to connect with the voters disillusioned by the DMK, AIADMK and BJP,' the senior leader added. Founded in 2005, Vijayakanth DMDK first contested in the 2006 assembly election, securing 8.38 percent of votes and winning only one seat. Subsequently, in 2011, the DMDK joined hands with the AIADMK and won in as many as 41 seats and became the prime opposition party in the assembly, pushing the DMK to third place. However, the DMDK's vote share declined to 2.4 percent in 2016 when it formed a People's Welfare Front, and in 2021, the figure declined to less than 2 percent. The DMDK's fortunes further waned as Vijayakanth's health condition deteriorated and he died in December 2023. (Edited by Sugita Katyal) Also read: V-Cs of TN state universities skip annual conference, Governor Ravi alleges govt pressure
The Hindu
01-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
DMDK's general council seeks renaming Chennai's 100 feet road after Vijayakant
The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam's (DMDK) general council meeting passed a resolution demanding Union Government's assurance that there would be no threat to the property owned by Muslims under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The party's general council also demanded retrieving of Katchatheevu to protect the interests of Tamil Nadu fishers. The meeting convened at Palacodde here on Wednesday, also called for renaming Chennai's 100 feet road after the DMDK founder, Vijayakant. The general council also called for conferring the country's highest honour Bharat Ratna on Vijayakant. Other resolutions passed include a memorial for the party founder; phasing out of Tasmac in the State in order to address liquor-induced crimes, and domestic violence in families; separate subject of 'counselling' to impart moral lessons to students in schools and colleges; to address the frequency of accidents in fireworks units in Virudhunagar and other parts of the State. The party's general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth said the announcement on the alliance will be announced at the right time. The DMDK's state conference will be held in Cuddalore next year on January 9, she added.
The Hindu
30-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
DMDK's general council seeks Union Government's assurance on Waqf (Amendment)Act
The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam's (DMDK) general council meeting passed a resolution demanding Union Government's assurance that there would be no threat to the property owned by Muslims under the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The party's general council also demanded retrieving of Katchatheevu to protect the interests of Tamil Nadu fishers. The meeting convened at Palacodde here on Wednesday, also called for renaming Chennai's 100 feet road after the DMDK founder, Vijayakant. The general council also called for conferring the country's highest honour Bharat Ratna on Vijayakant. Other resolutions passed include a memorial for the party founder; phasing out of Tasmac in the State in order to address liquor-induced crimes, and domestic violence in families; separate subject of 'counselling' to impart moral lessons to students in schools and colleges; to address the frequency of accidents in fireworks units in Virudhunagar and other parts of the State. The party's general secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth said the announcement on the alliance will be announced at the right time. The DMDK's state conference will be held in Cuddalore next year on January 9, she added.
