Chennai: In what may be a smooth transition of power, DMK is all set to elect working president M K Stalin, the younger son of late party patriarch M Karunanidhi, as its chief at its general council meet on 28 August.
The agenda for the meeting to be held at party headquarters Anna Arivalayam, will be the election of party president, and treasurer, a party release from its general secretary K Anbazhagan said.
Those who are interested to compete for the posts of president and treasurer have been asked to submit their applications before 26 August.
Sources said that veteran Durai Murugan might be elevated as the party’s treasurer, a post which was so far held by Stalin.
In a release here, DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan asked all general council members to participate in the meeting without fail.
Party district units like Cuddalore West have already adopted resolutions unanimously proposing Stalin’s elevation, sources pointed out.
‘While Stalin will be the party chief, senior leader and party principal secretary Duraimurugan is to be elected to the post of party treasurer. We are not bothered about opposition from Alagiri,’ the sources said. Karunanidhi who died.
on 7 August after a prolonged illness, had during his lifetime made it clear that Stalin will be his successor. Stalin (65), had held several party posts, including that of treasurer and youth wing secretary.
His innings in the party began early when he campaigned in the 1967 elections as a 14-year old school student. He became party’s youth wing Secretary in 1984.
He was incarcerated under MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) in 1976 during the Emergency. Stalin’s growth has been steady, and he became party deputy general secretary in 2003. He was re-elected treasurer for the second five-year term in January 2015.
He became an MLA for the first time in 1989 from Thousand Lights constituency from where he was relected thrice. In 2006, he became the Municipal Administration Minister in the DMK government and went on to become the Deputy Chief Minister in 2009.
| MEANWHILE IN AIADMK |
| Delhi High Court today directed the Election Commission of India not to take any decision on the petition filed by former AIADMK spokesperson K C Palanisamy in connection with the amendment to the party’s constitution. The order was passed after Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam moved against the Delhi Court’s order on 11 August which asked the ECI to decide on the matter in four weeks time. Meanwhile, it is also said that there is strong competition among AIADMK cadres to contest in the Thiruparankundram by-election. |