Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK; transl. Dravidian Progressive Federation) is a Political Party from India, which has a major influence on the state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry. It is currently the ruling party of Tamil Nadu and is part of the Indian political front known as the United Progressive Alliance (UPA).DMK is a Dravidian party, adhering to the socio-democratic and social justice principles based of C. N. Annadurai and Periyar E. V. Ramasamy. It was founded in 1949 by Annadurai as a breakaway faction from the Dravidar Kazhagam (also known as Justice Party until 1944) which was headed by Periyar E. V. Ramasamy.
DMK was headed by Annadurai (as the Secretary-general) from 1949 until his death on 3 February 1969. He also served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1967 to 1969. Under Annadurai, in 1967, DMK became the first party, other than the Indian National Congress, to win the state-level elections with a clear majority on its own in any state in India. M. Karunanidhi followed Annadurai as the first President of DMK from 1969 until his death on 7 August 2018. He also served as the Chief Minister for five non-consecutive terms, in two of which he was dismissed by the Central government. At present, the DMK is led by Karunanidhi’s son M. K. Stalin, who served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 2009 to 2011. Stalin was elected as the party’s Executive Leader in 2017 and then was unanimously elected as Party President by the general body of DMK in 2018, after Karunanidi’s death.
Following the 2019 general election, DMK emerged as the third-largest party in the Lok Sabha with 24 seats. The party won majorities in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly five times and currently the ruling party in Tamil Nadu.
The head office of the party is called Anna Arivalayam, and is located at Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
DMK Party terms in power (Tamil Nadu assembly elections)
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| S:No | Chief Minister | Assembly Elections | Party+Alliance | Other Side Party’s Leader | Year’s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C. N. Annadurai (1967–1969) Navalar Nedunchezhiyan (1969–1969) M. Karunanidhi (1969–1971) |
1967 Madras Legislative Assembly election | DMK+Third Front (137-Majorty Government) | (Indian National Congress) K. Kamarajar | (1967–1971) (4–Years) |
| 2 | M. Karunanidhi | 1971 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election | DMK+Indian National Congress (Central Alliance No attend state Assembly Election’s) (184-Majority Government) | (Congress (O)) K. Kamarajar | (1971–1976) (5–Years) |
| 3 | 1989 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election | DMK+Janata Dal (NF) (150-Majority Government) |
(AIADMK) J. Jayalalithaa | (1989–1991) (2–Years) | |
| 4 | 1996 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election | DMK+Janata Dal (UF) (Central Alliance No attend Tamilnadu State Parliament Election and Assembly Election’s) (1996–1998) (173-Majority Government) DMK+Bharatiya Janata Party (NDA) (1999-2001) | (1996–2001) (5–Years) | ||
| 5 | 2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election | DMK+(DPA) (2006–2009) (96-Mionerty Government Support from Congress Party 34 MLA Totally 96+34=130) DMK+Indian National Congress (UPA) (2009–2011) | (2006–2011) (5–Years) | ||
| 6 | M. K. Stalin | 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election | DMK+(SPA) (125-Majority Government) | (AIADMK) Edappadi K. Palaniswami | (2021–Present) |
DMK Party Parliament Election’s Central Alliance Party’s
| S:No | Chief Minister | Parliament Election’s | Central Alliance Party’s | Prime Minister | Year’s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | M. Karunanidhi (Tamil Nadu Chief Minister) | 1971 Indian general election | DMK+Indian National Congress (First Time Alliance) | Indira Gandhi | (1971–1976) (5–Years) |
| 2 | 1977 Indian general election | DMK+Janata Party | Morarji Desai | (1977–1979) (2–Years) | |
| 3 | 1980 Indian general election | DMK+Indian National Congress (Second time Alliance) | Indira Gandhi | (1980–1982) (2–Years) | |
| 4 | 1989 Indian general election | DMK+Janata Dal (First Time Alliance) (National Front) | V. P. Singh | (1989–1990) (1–Years) | |
| 5 | 1996 Indian general election | DMK+Janata Dal (Second Time Alliance) (United Front) (Central Alliance No attend Tamilnadu State Parliament Election and Assembly Election’s) | Deve Gowda & I. K. Gujral | (1996–1997) & (1997–1998) (2–Years) | |
| 6 | 1999 Indian general election | DMK+Bharatiya Janata Party (National Democratic Alliance) | Atal Bihari Vajpayee | (1999–2004) (5–Years) | |
| 7 | 2004 Indian general election & 2009 Indian general election |
DMK+Indian National Congress (United Progressive Alliance) (2004 Third Time and 2009 Fourth time Alliance) | Manmohan Singh | (2004–2009) & (2009–2013) (9–Years) |
History
Origins and foundation
The party was derived from parent parties:
- Justice Party (South Indian Liberal Federation)
- Dravidar Kazhagam
- Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Justice Party
DMK traces its roots to the South Indian Liberal Federation (Justice Party) founded by Dr C. Natesa Mudaliar in 1916, in the presence of P. Thyagaraya Chetty, Dr P.T. Rajan, Dr T. M. Nair, Dr Arcot Ramasamy Mudaliar and a few others in Victoria Public Hall Madras Presidency. The Justice Party, whose objectives included social equality and justice, came to power in the first general elections to the Madras Presidency in 1920. Communal division between Brahmins and non-Brahmin upper castes began in the presidency during the late-19th and early-20th century, mainly due to caste prejudices and disproportionate Brahminical representation in government jobs. The Justice Party’s foundation marked the culmination of several efforts to establish an organisation to represent the non-Brahmin upper castes in Madras and is seen as the start of the Dravidian Movement.
E. V. Ramasamy Nayakkar , a popular Tamil reformist leader of the time, had joined Indian National Congress in 1919, to oppose what he considered the Brahminic leadership of the party. Periyar’s participance at the Vaikom Satyagraha made him to start the Self-Respect Movement in 1926 which was rationalistic and “anti-Brahministic”. He quit Congress and in 1935, he joined the Justice Party.
In the 1937 elections, the Justice Party lost and the Indian National Congress under C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) came to power in Madras Presidency. Rajaji’s introduction of Hindi as a compulsory subject in schools led to the anti-Hindi agitations, led by Periyar and his associates.
Dravidar Kazhagam
In August 1944, Periyar created the ‘Dravidar Kazhagham’ out of the Justice Party and the Self-Respect Movement at the Salem Provincial Conference. Dravidar Kazhagam, conceived as a movement and not a political party, insisted on an independent nation for Dravidians called Dravida Nadu consisting of areas that were covered under Madras Presidency.
The party at its inception retained the flag of the South Indian Liberal Federation which had a picture of a traditional type of balance signifying the idea of equality. Its central theme was to remove the degraded status imposed on Dravidians, and to denote this, the party adopted a black flag with a red circle inside it, the black signifying their degradation and the red denoting the movement for upliftment.
It opposed Brahminical social, political and ritual dominance, and aimed to form a separate country of Dravida Nadu, to include either all of South India or the predominantly Tamil-speaking regions.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Over the years, many disagreements arose between Periyar and his followers. In 1949, several of his followers led by C. N. Annadurai decided to split from Dravidar Kazhagham, after an aged Periyar married a young woman Maniammai and appointed his young wife to act as his successor to lead the party, superseding senior party leaders. Until then E. V. K. Sampath, the nephew of Periyar, was considered his political heir.
- C N.Annadurai (on 17 September 1949 along with)
- Madurai Muthu
- V. R. Nedunchezhiyan
- K. A. Mathiazhagan
- N. V. Natarajan, later in 1950s known as Aimberum Thalaivargal (after mummunai poorattum) (Great Five Leaders)
along with thousands of others in Robinson park in Royapuram in Chennai announced the formation of the DMK. The name of the party (DMK) was announced by Kudanthai Perunthagai. K. K. Neelamegam.
The Dravidian philosophy culminated both politically and socially with DMK at the helm of administration, the first ever sub-altern movement in the history of sub-continent politics to have political representation from erstwhile lower-classes, a marked move from generations of civic administration from upper class citizenry. This had deep societal impact which resulted in increased political participation, aided the representation of the emergent strata, enriched civic life, and thus strengthened pluralist democracy. The movement, in social media circles, is popularly known as Robinson Park Effect.
After split from Dravidar Kazhagam
C.N. Annadurai’s leadership (1949–1969)
DMK’s Anti-Hindi Imposition agitations
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) which split from the Dravidar Kazhagam in 1949, inherited the anti-Hindi Imposition policies of its parent organisation. DMK’s founder Annadurai had earlier participated in the anti-Hindi imposition agitations during 1938–40 and in the 1940s. In July 1953, the DMK launched an agitation for changing the name of a town from Kallakudi to Dalmiapuram. They claimed that the town’s name (after Ramkrishna Dalmia) symbolised the exploitation of South India by the North. On 15 July 1953, M. Karunanidhi (later Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu) and other DMK members erased the Hindi name in Dalmiapuram railway station’s name board and lay down on the tracks. In the altercation with the police that followed the protests, two DMK members lost their lives, and several others, including Karunanidhi and Kannadasan, were arrested.
In the 1950s DMK continued its anti-Hindi Imposition policies along with the secessionist demand for Dravida Nadu. On 28 January 1956, Annadurai along with Periyar and Rajaji signed a resolution passed by the Academy of Tamil Culture endorsing the continuation of English as the official language. On 21 September 1957 the DMK convened an anti-Hindi Conference to protest against the imposition of Hindi. It observed 13 October 1957 as “anti-Hindi Day”. On 31 July 1960, another open air anti-Hindi conference was held at Kodambakkam, Madras. In November 1963, DMK dropped its secessionist demand in the wake of the Sino-Indian War and the passage of the anti-secessionist 16th Amendment to the Indian Constitution. But the anti-Hindi stance remained and hardened with the passage of Official Languages Act of 1963. The DMK’s view on Hindi’s qualifications for official language status were reflected in Annadurai’s response to the “numerical superiority of Hindi” argument: “If we had to accept the principle of numerical superiority while selecting our national bird, the choice would have fallen not on the peacock but on the common crow.”
First election
DMK’s first foray into electoral politics was a mixed bag. Some of the founding leaders lost their bid to be elected to the legislative assembly in 1957. M Karunanidhi won the Kulithalai constituency while other seniors members like CN Annadurai in Kanchipuram, Madurai Muthu. In Thirupparankundram and V. R. Nedunchezhiyan from Salem lost their bid. In 1962 another prominent actor S.S.Rajendran (“SSR”) contested in Theni, legislative assembly election, against the then-popular congress leader N. R. Thiyagarajan and won the seat.
Formation of State Government
In 1967, DMK came to power in Madras province 18 years after its formation and 10 years after it had first entered electoral politics. This began the Dravidian era in Madras province which later became Tamil Nadu. In 1967, the Congress lost nine states to opposition parties, but it was only in Madras state that a single non-Congress party majority was achieved. The electoral victory of 1967 is also reputed to an electoral fusion among the non-Congress parties to avoid a split in the Opposition votes. Rajagopalachari, a former senior leader of the Congress party, had by then left the Congress and launched the right-wing Swatantra Party. He played a vital role in bringing about the electoral fusion amongst the opposition parties to align against the Congress. At that time, his cabinet was the youngest in the country.
Self-respect marriages act
Annadurai legalised self-respect marriages for the first time in the country. Such marriages were void of priests to preside over the ceremony and thus did not need a Brahmin to carry out the wedding. Self-respect marriages were a brainchild of Periyar, who regarded the then conventional marriages as mere financial arrangements which often caused great debt through dowry. Self-respect marriages, according to him, encouraged inter-caste marriages and caused arranged marriages to be replaced by love marriages. Annadurai was also the first to use subsidising of the price of rice for election victory. He promised one rupee a measure of rice, which he initially implemented once in government, but had to withdraw later. Subsidising rice costs are still used as an election promise in Tamil Nadu.
Madras State to Tamil Nadu (14 January 1969)
It was Annadurai’s government that renamed the Madras State to its present-day form declaring officially as Tamil Nadu. The name change itself was first presented in the upper house (Rajya Sabha) of the Parliament of India by Bhupesh Gupta, a communist MP from West Bengal, but was then defeated. With Annadurai as chief minister, the state assembly succeeded in passing the bill renaming the states.
Two language policy (1967)
Anna was instrumental in organising the World Tamil Conference under the aegis of UNESCO in 1967. Another major achievement of Annadurai’s government was to introduce a two language policy over the then popular three language formula. The three language formula, which was implemented in the neighbouring states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala, entitled students to study three languages: the regional language, English and Hindi.
World Tamil conference (1967)
It was during the period of his Chief Ministership that the Second World Conference was conducted on a grand scale on 3 January 1968. Nevertheless, when a commemorative stamp was released to mark the Tamil conference, Annadurai expressed his dissatisfaction that the stamp contained Hindi when it was for Tamil. Annadurai also issued an order for the removal of the pictures of gods and religious symbols from public offices and buildings.
Karunanidhi’s leadership (1969–2018)
After the unexpected passing of the founding leader CN Annadurai, a group of senior leaders headed by Madurai Muthu and Athithanar chose Karunanidhi as an interim leader over the other leadership contestant VR Nedunchezhilan. Thus DMK was headed by M. Karunanidhi from 1969 until his death on 7 August 2018. He also served as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu for five terms.
Karunanidhi’s Dmk five slogans (Aimperum Muzhakkam)
M. Karunanidhi in 1970 Anna’s 1st anniversary, DMK statewide conference held in Trichy where five slogans were released at the conference. Those are:
- The party always follows the footsteps of Annadurai,
- An egalitarian society will be formed,
- Forever, the party opposes the imposition of Hindi,
- Poverty will be overcome through a peaceful manner,
- Autonomy for state governments and Union government by coalition.
MGR faction
M. G. Ramachandran (MGR) who was a popular actor and the then party treasurer, the political feud between MGR and the party president Karunanidhi emerged as an aftermath of the latter calling himself “Mujib of Tamil Nadu”. In 1972, MGR called for a boycott of the party’s General Council. With the crisis falling into call for corruption probe by MGR where he was a treasurer, he was eventually suspended from the General Council by the high power committee of DMK. Thus emerged a new party All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
Five terms Chief Minister
Karunanidhi became an MLA 13 times, five times chief minister and one time member of council in Tamil Nadu legislative assembly.
Kalaignar fought for the right of CM’s to hoist the National Flag in a State
Karunanidhi secured right for chief ministers to unfurl Tricolour on Independence Day in 1974, he became first Tamil CM to do so. Karunanidhi secured a precious right for all the Chief Ministers from Indira Gandhi.
Elections under Karunanidhi’s presidency
- In 1977, DMK lost the Assembly elections to MGR’s AIADMK, and stayed out of power in the state till 1989. After MGR’s death in December 1987, AIADMK split into two factions between Janaki (MGR’s wife) and Jayalalithaa. DMK returned to power in the 1989 State assembly elections and Karunanidhi took over as chief minister in January 1989.
- in the 1991 election was held on the backdrop of DMK government dissolved within 2 years of formation due to pressure from Rajiv gandhi, in the same year Rajiv was killed by Human bomb during election campaign. Due to DMK’s pro-Tamil stance and the dismissal of the state government mid way by Rajiv, people’s presumption was against DMK and the sympathy wave in favour of AIADMK–Congress alliance and the DMK was deprived of any seats in the Parliament.
- In the 1996 state elections, DMK came to power on strength of corruption charges against J.Jayalalithaa and the alliance with Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), headed by G.K. Moopanar and supported by cine actor Rajinikanth. However, in 2001, the AIADMK, on strength of a strong alliance and the incumbency factor against DMK, came back to power in the state assembly elections.
- In the 2004 parliamentary elections, DMK formed an alliance with Congress, the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and swept a grand Victory, the alliance winning all 40 seats including Puducherry. This enabled 7 ministerial posts in the Central government and influential power to DMK.
- Two years later in 2006, the same alliance won in the state assembly elections and the DMK for the first time formed a minority government in the state with help from Congress. M Karunanidhi became the Chief Minister of the state for the fifth time. The DMK-Congress alliance was also successful in the 2009 parliamentary elections.
- In the 2011 Assembly elections, held in the wake of the 2G case and allegations of nepotism, the DMK won only 23 seats, 127 seats less than earlier.
- In the 2014 Lok Sabha election DMK failed to win any seats; however, by vote percentage, it was second only to AIADMK.
- The 2016 state assembly elections gave DMK 89 MLAs. This was the most number for an opposition party in the history of the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly.
M. K. Stalin’s leadership (2018–present)
Karunanidhi died on 7 August 2018, leaving the party in the hands of his son, M. K. Stalin. Stalin had been appointed as the working president in January 2017 when Karunanidhi’s health started declining, and had previously been named heir apparent by his father. Stalin thus became the second DMK president since the party’s inception. On 3 February 2020, M. K. Stalin announced that Prashant Kishor was signed up as a party strategist for the upcoming 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election.
M.K. Stalin’s DMK five slogans: (Aimperum Muzhakkam)
M.K. Stalin calls on the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on 4 July 2007.
M. K. Stalin on 25 March 2018 DMK statewide conference held in Erode where five slogans were released at the conference. Those are:
- Let’s keep an eye on the Kalaignar’s command,
- Let us grow and admire Tamil,
- Let’s crush the power pile,
- Let us protect the humanity from extremism,
- Let us grow a prosperous Tamil Nadu.
Elections under M.K. Stalin’s presidency
2019 General Election – Secular Progressive Alliance
M.K. Stalin formed the Secular Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu under the United Progressive Alliance in the center and led the alliance in the 2019 general election. MK Stalin and his alliance in Tamil Nadu won 39 out of 40 seats in the parliament and 12 out of 21 in the Assembly by-election with 52% vote share.
2020 Tamil Nadu local body election (rural)
The DMK led alliance won the 2019 Tamil Nadu local body elections under the Secular Progressive alliance.
2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Election
The DMK led Secular Progressive Alliance won the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. The alliance won 159 seats out of 234 seats with 46% vote share with the support of I-PAC by Prashanth Kishore.
Party ideology
Dravidian nationalism
The Anti-Hindi Imposition agitations of 1965 forced the central government to abandon its efforts to use Hindi as the only official language of the country; still, Hindi usage continued as Indian government employees are asked to write as much as 65% of the letters and memoranda in Hindi.
State autonomy
After The Emergency invoked by Indira Gandhi, more state powers like school education and medical care were moved from state control to national control. At the state conference in Trichy after the death of C.N. Annadurai, M. Karunanidhi announced the adoption of the “state autonomy” principle to advocate for state self-governance. In April 1974, the DMK government brought in a resolution in the House urging the centre to accept the Rajamannar Committee recommendations on state autonomy and amend the Constitution of India to pave the way for a truly federal system.
Social justice
The DMK reconstituted the disabled persons welfare board to Differently Abled Persons Departments and the changed official terms for transgender individuals to more respectful terms like Thirunangai and Thirunambi.
Party symbol
The party’s election symbol is the “sun rising from between two mountains”, with a black and red flag often pictured. The symbol was inspired from leader and scriptwriter M. Karunanidhi’s 1950s play Udaya Suryan, and is intended to signify the “rising” spirit of the Dravidian people.
In the 1957 poll, the DMK was not recognised by the Election Commission. The party was grouped as independents and was not united by its rising sun symbol and were forced to contest under the rooster symbol.
Election history
Parliament General elections in Tamil Nadu
| Year | Party leader | Seats won | Change in seats | Percentage of votes | Popular vote | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | C.N. Annadurai |
8 / 41 |
 9 |
– | – | independent |
| 1962 | C.N. Annadurai |
7 / 41 |
 1 |
18.64% | 2,315,610 | Opposition |
| 1967 | C.N. Annadurai |
25 / 39 |
18 |
51.79% | 7,996,264 | government |
| 1971 | M. Karunanidhi |
23 / 39 |
2 |
55.61% | 8,869,095 | government |
| 1977 | M. Karunanidhi |
1 / 39 |
22 |
37.84% | 6,758,517 | Opposition |
| 1980 | M. Karunanidhi |
16 / 39 |
15 |
55.89% | 10,290,515 | government |
| 1984 | M. Karunanidhi |
2 / 39 |
14 |
37.04% | 8,006,513 | Opposition |
| 1989 | M. Karunanidhi |
0 / 39 |
2 |
33.78% | 8,918,905 | Lost |
| 1991 | M. Karunanidhi |
0 / 39 |
No Changes | 27.64% | 6,823,581 | Lost |
| 1996 | M. Karunanidhi |
17 / 39 |
17 |
54.96% | 14,940,474 | Government |
| 1998 | M. Karunanidhi |
6 / 39 |
11 |
42.72% | 10,937,809 | Opposition |
| 1999 | M. Karunanidhi |
12 / 39 |
6 |
46.41% | 12,638,602 | Government |
| 2004 | M. Karunanidhi |
16 / 39 |
4 |
57.40% | 16,483,390 | Government |
| 2009 | M. Karunanidhi |
18 / 39 |
2 |
42.54% | 12,929,043 | Government |
| 2014 | M. Karunanidhi |
0 / 39 |
18 |
26.8% | 10,243,767 | Lost |
| 2019 | M. K. Stalin |
24 / 39 |
24 |
52% | Opposition |
Tamil Nadu Assembly election
| Year | Party leader | Seats won | Change in seats | Percentage of votes | Popular vote | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | C.N. Annadurai |
15 / 205 |
15 |
– | – | independent |
| 1962 | C.N. Annadurai |
50 / 205 |
37 |
27.10% | 3,435,633 | opposition |
| 1967 | C.N. Annadurai |
137 / 234 |
87 |
40.69% | 6,230,556 | government |
| 1971 | M. Karunanidhi |
184 / 234 |
47 |
48.58% | 7,654,935 | government |
| 1977 | M. Karunanidhi |
48 / 234 |
136 |
24.89% | 4,258,771 | opposition |
| 1980 | M. Karunanidhi |
37 / 234 |
11 |
22.1% | 4,164,389 | opposition |
| 1984 | M. Karunanidhi |
24 / 234 |
13 |
29.3% | 6,362,770 | opposition |
| 1989 | M. Karunanidhi |
150 / 234 |
116 |
37.89% | 9,135,220 | government |
| 1991 | M. Karunanidhi |
2 / 234 |
148 |
22.5% | 5,535,668 | others |
| 1996 | M. Karunanidhi |
173 / 234 |
171 |
53.77% | 14,600,748 | government |
| 2001 | M. Karunanidhi |
31 / 234 |
142 |
30.90% | 8,669,864 | opposition |
| 2006 | M. Karunanidhi |
96 / 234 |
65 |
26.50% | 8,728,716 | government |
| 2011 | M. Karunanidhi |
23 / 234 |
73 |
22.40% | 8,249,991 | others |
| 2016 | M. Karunanidhi |
89 / 234 |
66 |
31.39% | 13,670,511 | opposition |
| 2021 | M. K. Stalin |
133 / 234 |
44 |
39.7% | 17,430,100 | government |
Puducherry
| Year | Election | Votes polled | Seats won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 3rd Assembly | 47,823 | 2 |
| 1977 | 4th Assembly | 30,441 | 3 |
| 1980 | 5th Assembly | 68,030 | 14 |
| 1985 | 6th Assembly | 87,754 | 5 |
| 1990 | 7th Assembly | 101,127 | 9 |
| 1991 | 8th Assembly | 96,607 | 4 |
| 1996 | 9th Assembly | 105,392 | 7 |
| 2001 | 10th Assembly | 83,679 | 7 |
| 2006 | 11th Assembly | 7 | |
| 2011 | 12th Assembly | 3 | |
| 2016 | 13th Assembly | 2 | |
| 2021 | 14th Assembly | 154,858 | 6 |
| Year | Election | Votes polled | Seats won |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 8th Lok Sabha | 97,672 | 0 |
| 1989 | 9th Lok Sabha | 157,250 | 0 |
| 1991 | 10th Lok Sabha | 140,313 | 0 |
| 1996 | 11th Lok Sabha | 183,702 | 0 |
| 1998 | 12th Lok Sabha | 168,122 | 1 |
List of presidents of Chife Minister Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
| S.No | Portrait | Name (birth–death) |
Tenure | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
C. N. Annadurai (15/09/1909–3/2/1969) |
15 September 1909 – 03 February 1969 | 2 year’s |
| 2 | No Photo’s | Navalar Nedunchezhiyan (11/07/1020–12/01/2000) |
11 July 1920 – 12 January 2000 | 5 Day’s |
| 3 |  |
M. Karunanidhi (03/06/1924–07/08/2018) |
27 July 1969 – 7 August 2018 | 49 years, 11 days |
| 4 |  |
M. K. Stalin<br(>(01/03/1953) | 28 August 2018 – Incumbent | 2 years, 269 days; |
List of General Secretary of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
| S.No | Name (birth–death) |
Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | C. N. Annadurai (1909–1969) |
17 September 1949 – 3 February 1969 |
| 2. | V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (1920–2000) |
4 February 1969 – 16 May 1977 |
| 3. | K. Anbazhagan (1922–2020 ) |
17 May 1977 – 7 March 2020 |
| 4. | Durai Murugan (1938–) |
9 September 2020 – Incumbent |
List of Treasurer of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
| S.No | Name | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | K.K.Neelamegam | |
| 2. | M. Karunanidhi | |
| 3 | M. G. Ramachandran | 1969–1972 |
| 4 | K. Anbazhagan | 1972–1977 |
| 5 | S. J. Sadiq Pasha | 1977–1994 |
| 6. | Arcot N. Veeraswami | 12 May 1994 – 26 December 2008 |
| 7. | M. K. Stalin | 27 December 2008 – 27 August 2018 |
| 8. | Durai Murugan | 28 August 2018 – 3 September 2020 |
| 9. | T. R. Baalu | 9 September 2020 – Incumbent |
List of Chief Ministers from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Chief Minister of Madras State
| S.No | Name (birth–death) |
Tenure | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C. N. Annadurai (1909–1969) |
6 March 1967–13 January 1969 | 680 days (2–Year’s) |
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
| S.No | Name (birth–death) |
Tenure | Days |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C. N. Annadurai (1909–1969) |
14 January 1969–3 February 1969 | 20 days (in total 700) |
| 2 | V. R. Nedunchezhiyan (Acting Chife Minister) (1920–2000) |
(4 February 1969–9 February 1969) | 5 days |
| 3 | M. Karunanidhi (1924–2018) |
1. (10 February 1969–4 January 1971) 2. (15 March 1971–31 January 1976) 3. (27 January 1989–30 January 1991) 4. (13 May 1996–13 May 2001) 5. (13 May 2006–15 May 2011) |
6863 days (19–Year’s) |
| 4 | M. K. Stalin (1953–) |
7 May 2021– Incumbent | (2021–Presant) |
Chief Minister of Pondicherry
| S.No | Name | Tenure |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | M. O. H. Farook (1937–2012) |
(17 March 1969 – 3 January 1974) |
| 2 | M. D. R. Ramachandran | (16 January 1980 – 24 June 1983) (8 March 1990 – 3 March 1991) |
| 3 | R. V. Janakiraman (1941–2019) |
(26 May 1996 – 21 March 2000) |
List of Deputy Chief Ministers from Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
| Member | year |
|---|---|
| M. K. Stalin | (29 May 2009 – 15 May 2011) |
List of Leaders of Opposition
Tamil Nadu
| Leaders of Opposition | year |
|---|---|
| V. R. Nedunchezhiyan | (1962–1967) |
| M. Karunanidhi | (1977–1987) |
| K. Anbazhagan | (2001–2006) |
| M. K. Stalin | (2016 – 2021) |
Pondicherry
| Leaders of Opposition | year |
|---|---|
| Kuppusamy Gounder | (1989–95) |
| R. V. Janakiraman | (2001–06) |
| A.M.H.Nazeem | (2006–11) |
List of speakers of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
| # | Name | Took office | Left office | Deputy Speaker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | C. P. Chitrarasu | 1970 | 1976 | |
| 2. | Si. Pa. Adithanar | 17 March 1967 | 12 August 1968 | Pulavar K. Govindan |
| 3. | Pulavar K. Govindan | 22 February 1969 | 14 March 1971 | G. R. Edmund |
| 4. | K. A. Mathiazagan | 24 March 1971 | 2 December 1972 | P. Seenivasan |
| 5. | P. Seenivasan (Acting Speaker) | 2 December 1972 | 3 August 1973 | |
| 6. | Pulavar K. Govindan | 3 August 1973 | 3 July 1977 | N. Ganapathy |
| 7. | M. Tamilkudimagan | 8 February 1989 | 30 June 1991 | V. P. Duraisamy |
| 8. | P. T. R. Palanivel Rajan | 23 May 1996 | 21 May 2001 | Parithi Ilamvazhuthi |
| 9. | R. Avudaiappan | 19 May 2006 | 15 May 2011 | V. P. Duraisamy |
| 10. | M. Appavu | 12 May 2021 | K. Pitchandi |
Current office bearers and prominent members
| Member | Position in government | Party position |
|---|---|---|
| M. K. Stalin | Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Former Deputy Chief Minister | President |
| Duraimurugan | Minister for Water Resources, MLA from Katpadi | General Secretary |
| T. R. Baalu | Member of parliament (Lok Sabha) and Former Union Minister for ship and roadways | Treasurer and Party Lok Sabha Leader |
| K. N. Nehru | Minister for Municipal Administration, MLA from Tiruchirappalli West | Principal Secretary |
| R. S. Bharathi | Member of parliament (Rajya Sabha), Former Chairman of Alandur Municipality | Organization Secretary |
| I. Periyasamy | Minister for Co-operation, MLA from Aathoor | Deputy General Secretary |
| Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan | Former Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment | Deputy General Secretary |
| Anthiyur P. Selvaraj | Member of parliament, Former State Minister for Handloom | Deputy General Secretary |
| K. Ponmudy | Minister for Higher Education, MLA from Tirukkovilur | Deputy General Secretary |
| A. Raja | Member of parliament (Lok Sabha) and Former Union Minister | Deputy General Secretary |
| T. K. S. Elangovan | Member of parliament (Rajya Sabha) | Official Spokesperson |
| Kanimozhi Karunanidhi | Lok Sabha Deputy Leader for DMK MPs crew,Member of Parliament from Thoothukudi | Women’s wing Secretary |
| Palanivel Thiyagarajan | Minister for Finance and Human Resource Management, MLA from Madurai Central | IT wing Seceratary |
| Udhayanidhi Stalin | Member of Legislative Assembly from Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni | Youth wing Secretary |
| Karthikeya Sivasenapathy | Environment wing Secretary | |
| T R B Rajaa | Member of Legislative Assembly from Mannargudi | NRI Wing Secretary |
High level executive committee
| Member | Position in Government |
|---|---|
| Arcot N. Veeraswami | Former State Minister |
| Suba Thangavelan | Former State Minister |
| E. V. Velu | Former State Minister |
| T. M. Selvaganapathy | Former State Minister |
| K. C. Palanisamy | Former State Minister |
| M. R. K. Panneerselvam | Former State Minister |
| Tiruchi Siva | Party Rajya Sabha Leader |
| S. Jagathrakshakan | Former Union Minister |
| Dayanidhi Maran | Former Union Minister |
| S. S. Palanimanickam | Former Union Minister |
| M. Kannappan | Former Union Minister |
| Pon. Muthuramalingam | Former State Minister |
| M. P. Saminathan | Former State Minister |
| L.Mookiah | Former MLA |
List of Union Cabinet Ministers from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
| S.No | Name (birth–death) |
Portfolio | Tenure | Prime Minister |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | T. G. Venkatraman (1931– 2013) |
Minister of Road Transport and HighwaysMinistry of Housing and Urban Affairs | 1 June 1996 – 19 March 199814 November 1997 10 December 1997 | H. D. Deve GowdaI. K. Gujral |
| 2. | Murasoli Maran (1934–2003) |
Minister of Commerce and IndustryMinister of Urban Development Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs | 13 October 1999 – 9 November 20026 December 1989 10 November 1989 1June 1996-19 March 1998 | H. D. Dewe GowdaAtal Bihari Vajpayee V. P. Singh |
| 3. | T. R. Baalu (1941–) |
Minister of Road Transport and HighwaysMinistry of Shipping Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister of State for Petroleum, Natural Gas and Non-Conventional Energy Sources Minister of State (Independent Charge) of New and Renewable Energy | 22 May 2004 – 22 May 200913 October 1999 21 December 2003 10 January 1998– 18 March 1998 1996–1998 | Manmohan SinghAtal Bihari Vajpayee H.D. Deve Gowda I.K. Gujral |
| 4. | Dayanidhi Maran (1966–) |
Minister of TextilesMinister of Communications and Information Technology | 28 May 2009 – 12 July 201122 May 2004 – 16 May 2007 | Manmohan Singh |
| 5. | A. Raja (1963–) |
Minister of Communications and Information TechnologyMinistry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Minister of State for Rural Development | 16 May 2007 – 14 November 201023 May 2004 – 17 May 2007 30 September 2002 – 21 May 2004 13 October 1996 – 29 September 2000 | H. D. Deve GowdaI. K. Gujral Atal Bihari Vajpayee Manmohan Singh |
| 6. | S.S. Palanimanickam (1950–) |
Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance | 2004–2013 | Manmohan Singh |
| 7. | S. Regupathy (1950–) |
Minister of State in the Ministry of Environment and Forests | 2004–2013 | |
| 8. | K. Venkatapathy (1946–) |
Minister of State in the Ministry of Law and Justice | 2004–2013 | |
| 9. | Subbulakshmi Jagadeesan (1947–) |
Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment | 2004–2013 | |
| 10. | V. Radhika Selvi (1976–) |
Minister of State in the Ministry of Home Affairs | 2004–2013 | |
| 11. | M. K. Alagiri (1951–) |
Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers | 13 June 2009 – 20 March 2013 | |
| 12. | M. Kannappan | Minister of State (Independent Charge) of New and Renewable Energy | 13 October 1999 – 30 December 2003 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee |
List of Tamil Nadu Cabinet Ministers from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
| Name | Tenure |
|---|---|
| C.N. Annadurai | 1967 |
| V. R. Nedunchezhiyan | 1967,1971 |
| M. Karunanidhi | 1967,1971,1989,1996,2006 |
| K. Anbazhagan | 1971,1989,1996,2006 |
| Arcot N. Veeraswami | 1989,1996,2006 |
| Durai Murugan | 1989,1996,2006,2021 |
| M. K. Stalin | 2006,2021 |
| K. N. Nehru | 1989,1996,2006,2021 |
| K. Ponmudy | 1989,1996,2006,2021 |
| I. Periasamy | 1996,2006,2021 |
| S. J. Sadiq Pasha | 1967,1971 |
| Satyavani Muthu | 1967,1971 |
| S. Madhavan | 1967,1971 |
| N. V. Natarajan | 1967,1971 |
| Pongalur N. Palanisamy | 1996,2006 |
| Ko. Si. Mani | 1996,2006 |
| Veerapandy S. Arumugam | 1996,2006 |
| A. Rahman Khan | 1996 |
| Parithi Ilamvazhuthi | 1996,2006 |
| A. Govindasamy | 1967 |
| M. Muthuswamy | 1967 |
| K. A. Mathialagan | 1967 |
| K. Rajaram | 1971 |
| Anbil P. Dharmalingam | 1971 |
| S. P. Adithanar | 1971 |
| S. Ramachandran | 1971 |
| M. Kannappan | 1971 |
| O. P. Raman | 1971 |
| Dr. Ponmudi (alias) Deivasigamani | 1996 |
| M. Tamilkudimagan | 1996 |
| Nanjil K. Manoharan | 1996 |
| K Sundaram | 1996 |
| M. R. K. Paneerselvam | 2006,2021 |
| N. Suresh Rajan | 2006 |
| E. V. Velu | 2006,2021 |
| Suba Thangavelan | 2006 |
| K. K. S. S. R. Ramachandran | 2006, 2021 |
| T. M. Anbarasan | 2006,201 |
| K. R. Periyakaruppan | 2006,2021 |
| Thangam Thennarasu | 2006,2021 |
| S. N. M Ubayadullah | 2006 |
| T. P. M. Mohideen Khan | 2006 |
| N. Selvaraj | 2006 |
| Vellakoil Saminathan | 2006,2021 |
| Poongothai Aladi Aruna | 2006 |
| Geetha Jeevan | 2006,2021 |
| Tamilarasi | 2006 |
| K. P. P. Samy | 2006 |
| U. Mathivanan | 2006 |
| K. Ramachandran | 2006,2021 |
Media
The DMK party runs two newspapers, one in English and one in Tamil, namely The Rising Sun (weekly journal) and Murasoli (daily), respectively.
Kalaignar TV is a channel started on 15 September 2007 and managed by Kanimozhi and Dayalu Ammal, the daughter and wife of Karunanidhi. The sister channels of Kalaignar TV are Isaiaruvi (music channel), Seithigal (news channel), Sirippoli (comedy channel), Kalaignar Asia and Chithiram (Tamil cartoon channel).
Controversies
Indira Gandhi dismissed the Karunanidhi government in 1976 based on charges of possible secession and corruption. The DMK government has been indicted by the Sarkaria commission for corruption in allotting tenders for the Veeranam drainage project.
Connections with LTTE
The interim report of the Justice Jain Commission, which oversaw the investigation into Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, indicted Karunanidhi for abetting the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The interim report recommended that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and the DMK party be held responsible for abetting Rajiv Gandhi’s murderers. The final report contained no such allegations.
Allegations of nepotism
Karunanidhi’s nephew, Murasoli Maran, was a Union Minister; however, it has been pointed out that he was in politics long before Karunanidhi became the Chief Minister in 1969.
Many political opponents and DMK party senior leaders have been critical of the rise of M. K. Stalin in the party.He was appointed has Mayor and later as Deputy CM of TN. But some of the party men have pointed out that Stalin has come up on his own.
Karunanidhi’s daughter Kanimozhi has been appointed as the Rajya Sabha MP.
Karunanidhi's nephew's son Dayanidhi Maran has been appointed has the central Minister. Karunanidhi's son-in-law has been appointed as the central minister in 2000's.
Karunanidhi’s grandson, son of Stalin Udhayanidhi Stalin, has been appointed has the MLA of TN assembly.
Karunanidhi has been accused of helping Murasoli Maran’s son Kalanidhi Maran, who runs Sun Network, India’s second largest television network. According to Forbes, Kalanidhi is among India’s richest 20, with $2.9 billion.
It has been pointed out that Karunanidhi has hesitated to take action against his erring family members.
Karunanidhi is also accused of allowing Azhagiri to function as an extraconstitutional authority in Madurai. The Dinakaran newspaper case was handed over to the CBI. But the District and Sessions court acquitted all the 17 accused in that case.