DMDK faces internal tensions as family takes key roles

The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), founded by the late actor-politician Vijayakanth, held its General Council meeting in Dharmapuri on Wednesday (April 30), sparking both internal unrest and significant resolutions. Led by Vijayakanth’s wife, Premalatha Vijayakanth, who serves as General Secretary, the party appointed Vijayakanth’s son, Vijaya Prabhakaran, as Youth Wing Secretary and Vijayakanth’s brother-in-law, LK Sudhish, as treasurer. The party also passed resolutions urging the Union government to confer the Bharat Ratna on Vijayakanth and name a Chennai road after him.

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Vijaya Prabhakaran, who contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Virudhunagar but lost, is now tasked with mobilising youth support across Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. This appointment is seen as an effort to rejuvenate the DMDK, which has struggled since Vijayakanth’s death in December 2023. Sudhish, previously Deputy Secretary, takes on the treasurer role, consolidating family influence over the party’s finances. However, these decisions have not gone unchallenged.

2 senior leaders walk out of meeting

The Youth Wing Secretary post was previously held by Nallathambi, a former Egmore MLA and Vijayakanth loyalist. Sources told The Federal that Nallathambi was offered no new role, causing friction among his supporters. Additionally, two senior leaders — former MLAs Alagapuram Mohan Raj from Salem and Anagai Murugesan from Chennai — walked out of the meeting, reportedly upset over the growing dominance of Vijayakanth’s family. Minority community leaders also expressed discontent, citing party rules that bar them from holding key posts, including Deputy Secretary, further deepening internal divisions.

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Amid these tensions, the General Council passed significant resolutions honouring Vijayakanth’s legacy. One resolution urged the Union government to award the Bharat Ratna to Vijayakanth for his contributions to cinema and politics. Another called on the Tamil Nadu government to name the 100-feet road in Chennai’s Vadapalani, near Vijayakanth’s residence, after him. Additional resolutions included demands for a memorial for Vijayakanth and assurances from the Union government that the Waqf Act would not harm Muslim properties. These resolutions reflect the party’s effort to cement Vijayakanth’s legacy while addressing broader community concerns.

Full authority for Premalatha

The council also granted Premalatha full authority to decide on the party’s alliance strategy for the 2026 elections, with the DMDK currently unaligned with any political front. This flexibility could be pivotal as the party seeks to rebuild its voter base against major players like the DMK, AIADMK, and emerging parties like Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). However, the DMDK’s internal challenges may hinder its efforts.

Senior Journalist T Ramakrishnan said, “Vijaya Prabhakaran contested from Virudhunagar in the last Lok Sabha election and came close to winning, a commendable effort despite his loss. Promoting him is justified, as no Indian political party is free from family influence. Dynastic politics is no longer a major concern; what matters is what the person in question does and delivers.”