Premalatha unanimously elected DMDK general secy

In a significant development, Premalatha Vijayakanth, the wife of ailing Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) founder Vijayakanth, was unanimously elected as the party’s General Secretary on Thursday. The decision was made during the party’s 18th general council and executive council meeting held in Thiruverkadu, Chennai, marking the first public appearance of Vijayakanth after undergoing treatment. Given Vijayakanth’s health concerns, the leadership mantle was officially passed on to Premalatha at the meeting, symbolizing a new chapter for the DMDK. In her address to the gathering, Premalatha expressed her commitment to taking the party to new heights and invoked the party’s past successes. “Captain named me as the general secretary of the party,” declared Premalatha, visibly seeking the blessings of Vijayakanth by touching his feet on stage. She outlined her goals for the party, emphasizing the need for unity among party cadres to replicate the success achieved in the 2011 elections when DMDK won 29 MLA seats with a vote share of 7.88%. While acknowledging the party’s recent decline in vote share, particularly after Vijayakanth’s health issues, Premalatha expressed openness to forging alliances with other political parties. Asserting the significance of DMDK’s role in elections, she stated, “No party can win without our support,” hinting at the potential influence the party holds in Tamil Nadu politics. The newly appointed General Secretary set the party’s immediate goal as the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, emphasizing confidence in forming a government in the 2026 Assembly elections. Premalatha called for support from party cadres, assuring them that she would lead the party back to its original goals, reaffirming the principles upon which the party was founded. During the general council meeting, 18 resolutions were passed, granting complete authority to Premalatha to decide on future alliances and formulate strategies for the upcoming parliamentary elections i