Besides re-electing party president M. Karunanidhi, general secretary K. Anbazhagan and treasurer M.K. Stalin, the DMK general council on Friday also elevated party MP Kanimozhi as the women’s wing secretary.
“There is no separate issue that affects women in the country. All issues have a direct bearing on them and the same can be explained by how women have become victims of the failure of law and order situation in Tamil Nadu,” Mr Kanimozhi told The Hindu .
While expressing happiness over her elevation, she said she would try to bring in independent thinking and socially conscious women into the party fold.
Former Minister and deputy general secretary Duraimurugan, who was upset with the leadership as he was not allowed to field his son Kadir Anandh for the district secretary’s post in Vellore, has been promoted as principal secretary.
As per the amendment made to the party’s constitution, the number of deputy general secretaries has been increased to four.
The objective is to give women more representation. In the organisational polls, only one woman was elected district secretary.
The general council nominated former Minister S.P. Sarguna Pandian, Subbulaksmi Jagadeesan, I. Periyasami and former deputy Speaker V.P. Duraisami as deputy general secretaries.
Former Union Minister A.Raja and former MP Tiruchi Siva have been appointed as propaganda secretaries.
Former MLA of Cuddalore Ila. Pugazhlednhi is the student wing secretary and Singara Rathinasabapathy labour wing secretary.
Stalin personifies hard work: Karunanidhi
M. Karunanidhi was full of praise for his son and party treasurer M.K. Stalin, saying he was “hard work personified.”
Addressing the party’s general council meeting, he said Mr Stalin had become a mature leader to lead the party.
Mr. Karunanidhi said he was making this remark as general secretary K. Anbazhagan had appreciated Mr Stalin’s leadership.
“Seven months ago I said he personified hard work. Now you have realised the capacity of his work and its outcome in the general council meeting,” he said.
Call to parties to unite against BJP
Alleging that the communal agenda of the BJP-led NDA government had become a cause of concern for minorities, secularists and those who had faith in the unity of the country, the DMK urged parties to bury their differences to counter the threat posed by the government at the Centre.
A resolution adopted in the general council said the though the DMK had initially welcomed many good initiatives of the BJP government, it was forced to reconsider its stand.
“The retrograde attitudes of some ministers had pained the party. Contrary to the oath taken in the name of the Indian Constitution, they are trying to convert India into a Hindu nation,” the resolution alleged.
While seeking to impose Hindi and Sanskrit on people whose mother tongue was different, some Union Ministers and RSS leaders have openly supported issues such as making Bhagavat Gita the national scripture and installation of statue for Godse, the assassin of Mahatma Gandhi.
I will try to bring in independent thinking and socially conscious women in to the party fold
