Appointment of DMK district secretaries leads to disappointment

CHENNAI

The enthusiasm among the workers over the DMK leadership’s announcement of elections for district office-bearers has quickly yielded place to disappointment.

After calling upon the functionaries to file applications and pay fees for various posts, including the secretary, the secretary, the presidium chairman and the treasurer, which would normally be contested fiercely, the leadership has chosen to appoint office-bearers to 71 of the 72 district units without elections.

“We are shocked because we thought the election would help to remove some district secretaries and office-bearers who are working against the interests of the party. If elections are held, some of the secretaries in Chennai would not have been elected,” said a local leader of Chennai district.

The leadership’s decision has caused disappointment among the party functionaries across the State, who alleged the “hand of a caucus” in deciding the appointments. “Such appointments took place in the AIADMK under Jayalalithaa. It is unfortunate that the DMK has also decided to follow the same method,” said the Chennai leader.

The list released by the leadership shows that only seven district secretaries have been changed. Most of the changes have taken place in the western region where the party has channelised its efforts to build the organisation.

“If there is an election, we can accept the outcome and will not blame anyone. The appointments, on the other hand, have questioned our existence and the work we have done all these years,” said a leader from the Kongu region. In some places, the aspirants were reportedly asked not to file applications.