Kanimozhi Becomes DMK Parliamentary Party Leader, Replaces TR Baalu

Dayanidhi Maran, the MP for Chennai Central, has been named the party’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha.

Kanimozhi, who represents the Thoothukudi Lok Sabha constituency, replaces Sriperumbudur MP T R Baalu. ( Image Source :Facebook/KanimozhiKarunanidhi )

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has announced key changes to its parliamentary leadership, appointing MP Kanimozhi as the party’s new parliamentary leader. Kanimozhi, who represents the Thoothukudi Lok Sabha constituency, replaces Sriperumbudur MP T R Baalu. With this, Kanimozhi will now lead the DMK in the Lok Sabha.

In a statement issued by DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday, several other appointments were also announced. Dayanidhi Maran, the MP for Chennai Central, has been named the party’s deputy leader in the Lok Sabha. Additionally, former Union Minister A Raja, representing the Nilgiris constituency, will serve as the Whip in the Lok Sabha.

For the Rajya Sabha, Tiruchi N Siva has been appointed as the DMK leader. M Shanmugam, the general secretary of the DMK trade union LPF, will take on the role of deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha. Senior advocate P Wilson will act as the party’s Whip in the Rajya Sabha, while Arakkonam MP S Jegathratchagan has been appointed the DMK treasurer for both the Houses.

These appointments come as part of the DMK's strategy just after the Lok Sabha Elections 2024. 

In the recently concluded elections, I.N.D.I.A bloc swept the polls bagging 40 out of 40 seats including the lone Puducherry constituency. The DMK alone won 22 seats while INC secured 9, VCK 2, CPI 2, CPI(M) 2 and MDMK 1.

The DMK leaders who have won seats include Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy, Thamizhachi Thangapandian, Dayanidhi Maran, T R Baalu, Selvam G, S Jagathratchakan, DM Kathir Anand, Mani A, Annadurai, C.N. Tharaniventhan M S, Malaiyarasan D, Selvaganapathi T M, Matheswaran V S, K E Prakash, Raja A, Ganapathy Rajkumar P, Eswarasamy K, Arun Nehru, Murasoli S, Thanga Tamilselvan, Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, and Dr. Rani Sri Kumar.