DMK at 70 has to reinvent itself as an inclusive party

CHENNAI: Seventy years ago, when it was born, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam had to establish its individual identity after separating from the Dravidar Kazhagam, take on the Congress and nationalist forces even while seeking to move forward on the separatist path and pursue its goal of social liberation.


Though it could overcome political opposition from DK founder EVR Periyar, it had to give up its goal of separatism to embrace parliamentary democracy and assume power in Tamil Nadu in 1967. Continuing the path of reservation for backward classes (BC), initiated by K Kamaraj of the Congress, the canvas of reservation has been enlarged by both the DMK and the AIADMK governments to the extent that reservation reached a saturation point, and there is little for the DMK or the AIADMK in the form of unfinished agenda on this front. Social objectives like right to property for women, encouragement of widow remarriage, steps against untouchability are also things of the past with legislations in place. Benefits from these measures on the social front have been accessed and used by various communities, especially by the BCs, more in the past two or three decades without any thought given to the hard work put in by parties like the DMK to make them happen. They are taken for granted now.

The anti-north tirade that marked fiery speeches by the DMK stalwarts of the 1960s is no longer relevant as the DMK and the AIADMK men and women have adorned the offices of various Union ministries from 1979 and have been part of the Central government dispensation, right up to the present AIADMK which is a part of the ruling NDA led by the BJP at the Centre.

Today, the DMK is struggling to connect with new generations of Tamil Nadu youth, whose aspirations are different from those of the society of the 1960s. There is no point flogging a dead horse. The party has also erred in not making the younger generation aware of the social and political movements from the 1950s and 60s which enable people today to derive several benefits, especially in the social sector. The Congress suffers from a similar failure to make successive generations aware of the struggle by freedom fighters, and the achievements of the Nehru-Indira legacy towards self-reliance through a public sector movement.

At present, the DMK is the beneficiary of a conglomeration of an anti-BJP front, a consolidation of votes against the NDA. As long as it keeps together this flock, it should remain comfortable. For the DMK to grow further on its own, it must reinvent itself and work out a positive agenda to seek support for new initiatives in reaching out to various sections of society, and must seek to be an inclusive party. A mere BC-Muslim tag will not help forever as the Samajwadi Party has found in Uttar Pradesh. The DMK must position itself as a party with a recipe for economic progress, job-inclusive growth, schemes for entrepreneurs and industrialists alike, and caring for all communities irrespective of the caste divide. The non-Tamil vote bank is sizeable, especially in the cities, and cannot be ignored by the DMK. Even while remaining a party for Tamils, it must be able to reach out to others living in the state or outside it, and make them feel comfortable while pursuing careers and establishing companies here.

Fortunately for the DMK, M K Stalin has shown a willingness to walk the extra mile to reach out to various parties, and also strike a balance between Tamil chauvinism and a pan-Tamil Nadu appeal. In this approach lies the way for the DMK to expand its frontiers and popularity. Stalin has also chosen not to hurt religious sentiments. The DMK must take care not to ride roughshod over aspirations of allies to have representation in the state assembly.

A broader view must be taken to give them opportunities in byelections. MGR and J Jayalalithaa succeeded in projecting their party as an organization that stood for everyone. If Stalin continues and strengthens the path of inclusiveness and growth-oriented policies while maintaining the fabric of alliance, he could bring the DMK back to power in 2021. Just when the DMK thought it need not worry about the charisma of film actors like MGR and Jayalalithaa any more, new challenges have emerged from outfits led by actors Rajinikanth and Kamal Haasan. Is the DMK ready to reinvent itself to take on these and other challenges?

(The author is a veteran journalist)