DMK Meet Today To Brainstorm Strategy For Lok Sabha Polls

After a string of subpar shows, party is hopeful of a turnaround in its fortunes

- B. Kolappan

The DMK’s high­level execu­tive committee will meet on Wednesday at Anna Ariva­layam to deliberate on the strategy for the next Lok Sabha elections.

Having lost three succes­sive elections — 2011 (As­sembly), 2014 (Lok Sabha) and 2016 (Assembly) — the DMK has more at stake than any other political party, as the outcome of the 2019 polls will be crucial for sus­taining the morale of both leaders and the rank and file of the party.

Though the party’s newly elected president, M.K. Sta­lin, is no stranger to manag­ ing election campaigns, what is different this time is the fact that the State has seen the passing away of two political heavyweights — Jayalalithaa and Karunanidhi — who, between them, were able to chart a political course independent of the trend elsewhere in the nation.

For instance, Jayalalith­aa’s famous slogan — ‘Modi or this lady’ — had a tremen­dous impact in the 2014 elec­tion and made the AIADMK the third largest party in the Lok Sabha, with 37 seats.