DMK Sets Age Limits, Expands District Units
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has announced a sweeping overhaul of its organisational structure, introducing age limits and two-term caps for key party posts while expanding the number of organisational districts. The reforms were approved at the party’s executive committee meeting in Chennai on August 22.
DMK Sets Age Limits for Party Posts
Under the new rules, branch secretaries will have a maximum age limit of 45 and can serve no more than two terms. Secretaries of town, city and municipal wards will face a maximum age of 50.
The age ceiling for town panchayat, area, town and union secretaries has been fixed at 60, while district secretaries can continue in office until the age of 70. A two-term limit will apply across these organisational positions.
DMK president M.K. Stalin said the changes were intended to bring younger functionaries into positions of responsibility and strengthen the party following its defeat in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election.
DMK to Expand Organisational Districts to 110
The party will increase its organisational districts from 78 to 110. Under the proposed structure, each party district will generally cover two Assembly constituencies within a revenue district.
If a single constituency remains after reorganisation, it may be attached to another appropriate party district within the same revenue district.
DMK Restructures Grassroots Units
The restructuring will also redraw union, town, area and ward units based partly on voter strength. Chennai area units will generally cover around 40,000 voters, while comparable units in other corporations will cover about 30,000.
The DMK has also decided to abolish the standalone post of city secretary. District executive committees will begin implementing the restructuring after Stalin formally announces the boundaries of the 110 organisational districts.
