DMK’s growth beyond splits! A record of 75 years of achievements

DMK celebrated its 75th anniversary and Mupperum Vizha (triple celebration - birth anniversary of Anna, Periyar and foundation day of DMK) splendidly in Vellore which became extra-special this year. The reason being, the survival of a state party for 75 years. It was Annadurai who sowed the seed for this historical achievement.

Annadurai was the one who announced the establishment of DMK on September 17, 1949 from Robinson Park in Royapuram, Chennai. Royapuram in North Chennai served as the headquarters of DMK in the initial years. A state party started in North Chennai has now stood out and drew the attention of northern states in India. DMK prevails as the 3rd largest party in the Parliament.

Anbagam in Teynampet became the headquarters of DMK after Royapuram. Following that, Karunanidhi built 'Anna Arivalayam' to be used as the head office of DMK which remains as the symbol of DMK till now.

Annadurai became CM as the DMK candidate in 1967, which was the first time in the Indian political history where a state party formed government with an overwhelming majority. Representing DMK, Anna became CM only once before he died in 1969, it was Karunanidhi who became CM 5 times representing DMK. In fact, Karunanidhi was the one who remained as the face of DMK for 80 years and held the party leadership longer than Annadurai.

CM Stalin has now become the 3rd generation Chief Minister directly from DMK after Annadurai and Karunanidhi. Apart from them, DMK has made 5 other Chief Ministerial candidates indirectly. 3 CMs who came directly from DMK include Annadurai, Karunanidhi and Stalin. The indirect CMs who came from the ADMK party which was broken away from the parent organisation of DMK include M.G.R, Janaki, Jayalalithaa, O. Panneerselvam, Edappadi K. Palaniswami. Totally Tamil Nadu has got 8 CMs from the parent organisation, DMK.

First Split from DMK:

E. V. K. Sampath (Erode Venkatappa Krishnasamy Sampath - Periyar's nephew and father of E.V.K.S. Elangovan) was the one to first break away from DMK and he formed the Tamil National Party. The split happened owing to the difference of opinion regarding the demand for a separate Dravidian nation. Annadurai gave up the demand due to the war threat from China which was the point of contestation and served as the reason for Sampath leaving the party.

During the 1961 Sampath's breakaway from DMK, Kannadasan, Sivaji Ganesan and Pazha Nedumaran played a significant role. Immediately after the inception, Sampath merged the Tamil National Party (TNP) with the Indian National Congress in 1964 which made the TNP lose its identity in Tamil Nadu. The turmoil created by Sampath's leaving disappeared in front of the mighty personality, Annadurai.

Upheaval caused by MGR:

The next big storm was created by MGR, the treasurer of DMK at that time. In 1972, MGR broke away from DMK and formed the ADMK party (Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam). The news was that MGR was expelled from the party because of his role in asking questions about party's accounts.

The split caused by MGR did not affect the parent organisation much, because the second line leaders stayed with DMK. But the party established by MGR gained prominence with time-being and became powerful which led to the capturing of power in Tamil Nadu. From 1977 to 1987, MGR served as the CM of Tamil Nadu. After the death of MGR, his wife became CM and there onwards the ADMK party split into two factions.

The Janaki faction and Jayalalithaa faction with Two Doves (Irattai pura) and Rooster as symbols respectively clashed with one another. The Jayalalithaa faction secured the win and the ADMK party was officially handed over to her which led to Janaki's retirement from political life.

ADMK was the only party which was separated from DMK and grew to a level of forming government. During ADMK's rule, Karunanidhi elevated DMK's position by being a dedicated and ambitious opposition leader. To remain as an able leader and to avoid the bitter effects of failure, his eloquence and literary skills helped a lot. Using literature, he won over people's heart and justified the actions of his side.

Third split from DMK:

After MGR, DMK's General Secretary Ira. Nedunchezhiyan along with K. Rajaram started the Makkal Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in 1977. In the 1977 election, Nedunchezhiyan formed an alliance with ADMK and later merged with ADMK which led to the disappearance of the party formed by him.

DMK splits Vs ADMK splits:

Compared to DMK, ADMK experienced more splits. Due to difference of opinion with Jayalalithaa, Thirunavukarasu established the Anna Puratchi Thalaivar Tamizhaga Munnetra Kazhagam and formed an alliance with DMK. In 1996 he merged with ADMK and again due to conflict of interest, Thirunavukarasu came out and formed the MGR ADMK party which failed to withstand the test of time. Another split from ADMK was caused by R. M. Veerappan who started the MGR Kazhagam in 1995. Initially he formed an alliance with DMK but later the party disappeared from the political arena.

Panruti S. Ramachandran was considered to be the brain behind MGR. After the death of MGR, he was one of the persons who sculpted the Jayalalithaa faction but with time-being owing to the negligence of Jayalalithaa, he joined the Pattali Makkal Katchi. In 1997, he started a new party in the name of Makkal Nala Urimai Kazhagam and formed alliance with DMK.

Actor T. Rajendar's split from DMK:

T. Rajendar, the Propaganda Secretary of DMK who was elected from the Park Constituency, left DMK due to the difference of opinion and established the Thaayaga Marumalarchi Kazhagam in 1991. This party was later changed as Latchiya Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the rest is history.

Split created by Vaiko:

It was Vaiyapuri Gopalasamy who created split in DMK after T. Rajendar. A letter sent to Karunanidhi by Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary T. V. Venkataraman created a big turmoil in the political circles. The content of the letter was an intelligence received by IB and RAW saying that Vaiko had planned to kill the DMK leader Karunanidhi with the help of LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). Owing to this piece of intelligence, DMK broke again. Regarding this Karunanidhi in an interview said, "Vaiko's issue is just a bump in the road not a rift to DMK".

75 years of DMK:

Despite all the hurdles, Karunanidhi has turned DMK party into a big organisation with strong principles. In the due course of time, Karunanidhi and the DMK party has become one and the same. Karunanidhi is one of the reasons why the party has survived 75 years after its inception by Annadurai.

Now DMK has celebrated its 75th anniversary on September 17. In the function, CM Stalin said, "DMK has stepped into its 75th anniversary which was started by a commander of the common youth force, Annadurai. Anyone writing about the 20th century political history cannot avoid the achievements of DMK. Despite many crises, protests, imprisonments, sacrifices, intimidations and failures, DMK has sustained its position as a powerful organisation."

He continued, "DMK is the only party which withstood the test of time due to its strong policies and ideologies. It is because of Periyar, Annadurai and Kalaignar Karunanidhi's propagation of ideologies, Tamil Nadu is standing out with uniqueness when compared to other states in India. We are proud that DMK is the only organisation in the world which made the changes possible through democratic means and rational activities."

The pride will soon reach 100 years!