Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
Abbreviation	DMK
President	M. K. Stalin
Parliamentary Chairperson	Kanimozhi Karunanidhi
Lok Sabha leader	T. R. Baalu
Rajya Sabha leader	Tiruchi Siva
Founder	C. N. Annadurai
Founded	17 September 1949 (75 years ago) (1949-09-17)
Split from	Dravidar Kazhagam
Preceded by	Justice Party (1917–1944) Dravidar Kazhagam (1944–1949)
Headquarters	Anna Arivalayam, 367–369, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai - 600018, Tamil Nadu, India
Student wing	Maanavar Ani
Youth wing	Ilaignar Ani
Women's wing	Magalir Ani
Labour wing	Labour Progressive Federation (LPF)
Ideology	Dravidianism Tamil nationalism Regionalism Social democracy Social justice Secularism
Political position	Centre-left
Colours	Black   Red
ECI Status	State Party
Alliance	Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (national) (2023–present) Secular Progressive Alliance (2019–present)
Seats in Lok Sabha	22 / 543
Seats in Rajya Sabha	10 / 245
Seats in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly	132 / 234
Seats in Puducherry Legislative Assembly	6 / 30
Number of states and union territories in government	1 / 31
Election symbol
(The Rising Sun)
Party flag
Elections

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is a big political party in India. It is mainly active in the state of Tamil Nadu and the union territory of Puducherry. Currently, the DMK is the ruling party in Tamil Nadu. In Puducherry, it is the main opposition party.

The DMK is one of the two most important political parties in Tamil Nadu. Its main rival is the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. The DMK was started on September 17, 1949, by C. N. Annadurai. He was a former chief minister of Tamil Nadu. The party was formed after a group broke away from another movement called the Dravidar Kazhagam.

C. N. Annadurai led the DMK as its general secretary until he passed away in 1969. He also served as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu from 1967 to 1969. In 1967, the DMK became the first party, other than the Indian National Congress, to win state elections on its own in any Indian state. After Annadurai, M. Karunanidhi became the party's first president in 1969. He led the party until his death in 2018. Karunanidhi was Chief Minister five times. After his death, his son, M. K. Stalin, became the party president.

After the 2019 Indian general election, the DMK became the third-largest party in the Lok Sabha (one of India's main parliamentary houses). The DMK and its allies won the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. They now hold 159 seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

How the DMK Party Started

Early Beginnings and Formation

Party flags in Madurai, Tamil Nadu

The DMK's history goes back to the South Indian Liberal Federation, also known as the Justice Party. This party was founded in 1916 by Dr. C. Natesa Mudaliar and others in Madras Presidency. The Justice Party wanted social equality and fairness for everyone. It came to power in the first elections in Madras Presidency in 1920.

At that time, there were social differences between groups of people. The Justice Party was formed to represent non-Brahmin groups. This was the start of the Dravidian movement. Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, a well-known reformer, joined the Indian National Congress in 1919. He later started the Self-Respect Movement in 1926. This movement focused on being rational and against certain social traditions. Periyar joined the Justice Party in 1935.

In 1937, the Justice Party lost the elections. The Indian National Congress, led by C. Rajagopalachari, came to power. Rajagopalachari tried to make Hindi a required subject in schools. This led to protests called the anti-Hindi agitations, led by Periyar.

In 1944, Periyar created the 'Dravidar Kazhagam' from the Justice Party and the Self-Respect Movement. The Dravidar Kazhagam was a social movement, not a political party. It wanted an independent nation for Dravidian people called Dravida Nadu. This area would include parts of the old Madras Presidency.

The party used a black flag with a red circle. The black color showed the difficult situation of Dravidian people. The red color showed their goal to improve their lives. Over time, Periyar and his followers had disagreements. In 1949, C. N. Annadurai and others decided to leave the Dravidar Kazhagam. They wanted to take part in elections, but Periyar did not agree.

The DMK brought the Dravidian ideas into politics. It was one of the first movements to give political power to people from groups that were previously seen as lower in society. This change helped more people get involved in politics. It also made society more diverse and strengthened democracy.

C. N. Annadurai's Time (1949–1969)

Dr. C.N. Annadurai
Founder of the party

The DMK first entered elections in 1957. They won 15 seats, but some important leaders lost. In 1962, they did better, winning 50 seats. This made them the main opposition party.

Protests Against Hindi Language

The DMK continued the protests against making Hindi the official language. C.N. Annadurai had been part of these protests since the 1930s. In 1953, the DMK protested against changing the name of Kallakudi town to Dalmiapuram. They felt this name change showed that North India was taking advantage of South India. M. Karunanidhi and other DMK members removed the Hindi name from a railway station sign. Some DMK members died in clashes with the police during these protests.

The DMK kept up its anti-Hindi protests in the 1950s. They also wanted a separate Dravida Nadu. In 1956, Annadurai, Periyar, and Rajaji agreed that English should continue as an official language. In 1957, the DMK held a conference to protest against Hindi being forced on people. In 1963, after a war with China, the DMK stopped asking for a separate nation. However, they continued to oppose Hindi being the only official language. Annadurai famously said that if India chose its national bird based on numbers, it would be a crow, not a peacock.

Forming the State Government

In 1967, the DMK won the elections in Madras State. This was 18 years after the party was formed. This victory started the "Dravidian era" in the state, which later became Tamil Nadu. In 1967, the Congress party lost in many states. But Madras was the only state where a single non-Congress party, the DMK, won a clear majority.

Former Congress leader Rajagopalachari helped different opposition parties work together. This helped them win against the Congress. Annadurai's cabinet was the youngest in the country at that time.

Other Important Actions

Annadurai made "self-respect marriages" legal. These marriages did not need priests, so Brahmin priests were not required. Periyar had thought of self-respect marriages to avoid expensive dowries and encourage marriages between different castes.

Annadurai also promised to lower the price of rice during his election campaign. He tried to do this when he became Chief Minister, but it was difficult to keep up. Lowering rice prices is still a common election promise in Tamil Nadu.

Annadurai's government also changed the name of Madras State to Tamil Nadu. This name change was first suggested in the national parliament but was rejected. With Annadurai as Chief Minister, the state assembly successfully passed the bill. Another important step was introducing a "two-language policy." This meant students would learn their regional language and English. This was different from the "three-language formula" used in other states, which included Hindi.

M. Karunanidhi's Time (1969–2018)

Dr. M. Karunanidhi
Former President of the party

In 1969, Annadurai passed away suddenly. M. Karunanidhi was chosen as his successor. He led the DMK until his death in 2018.

In the 1970s, M. G. Ramachandran (M.G.R.), a popular actor and party treasurer, had disagreements with Karunanidhi. M.G.R. was suspended from the party. He then started a new party called the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).

The central government dismissed Karunanidhi's government in 1976. The DMK government was investigated for some issues.

Karunanidhi's family members also became involved in politics. His nephew, Murasoli Maran, was a Union Minister. His daughter, Kanimozhi, became a Member of Parliament. His grandson, Udhayanidhi Stalin, became a Member of the Legislative Assembly.

Elections During Karunanidhi's Leadership

• In 1977, the DMK lost the state elections to M.G.R.'s AIADMK. They were out of power until 1989.
• After MGR's death in 1987, the AIADMK split. The DMK returned to power in 1989, and Karunanidhi became Chief Minister for the third time.
• In 1991, the DMK government was dismissed. During the election campaign, Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated. Because of the DMK's views on Tamil issues, public opinion turned against them. The DMK did not win any seats in the national parliament that year.
• In 1996, the DMK won the state elections. They formed an alliance with the Tamil Maanila Congress.
• In 2001, the AIADMK came back to power in the state elections.
• In the 2004 national election, the DMK formed a strong alliance with the Congress and other parties. They won all 40 seats in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. This allowed the DMK to have 7 ministers in the central government.
• In 2006, the same alliance won the state elections. The DMK formed a government with support from the Congress. Karunanidhi became Chief Minister for the fifth time. This alliance also won the 2009 national elections.
• In the 2011 state elections, the DMK won only 23 seats.
• In the 2014 national election, the DMK did not win any seats. However, they had the second-highest percentage of votes after the AIADMK.
• In the 2016 state elections, the DMK won 89 seats. This was the highest number of seats for an opposition party in Tamil Nadu's history.

M. K. Stalin's Time (2018–Present)

Dr. M.K. Stalin
President of the party

M. Karunanidhi passed away on August 7, 2018. His son, M. K. Stalin, took over the party. Stalin had been the working president since January 2017 when his father's health declined. He became the second president of the DMK. In 2020, M. K. Stalin hired Prashant Kishor as a party strategist for the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election.

In March 2018, the DMK held a conference. M. K. Stalin shared five important slogans:

• Follow Kalaignar's (Karunanidhi's) instructions.
• Help Tamil language and culture grow.
• Overcome challenges.
• Protect people from extreme ideas.
• Help Tamil Nadu become prosperous.

M.K. Stalin formed the Secular Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu. This alliance won 39 out of 40 seats in the national parliament in the 2019 general election. They also won 12 out of 21 seats in the state assembly. The DMK-led alliance also won the 2019 Tamil Nadu local elections.

The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance won the 2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election. They won 159 out of 234 seats.

What the DMK Believes In

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam follows the ideas of Duty, Dignity, and Discipline. These ideas were taught by C. N. Annadurai. The party aims to:

• Protect democratic rights in politics.
• Create a society where no one group dominates.
• Work for reforms based on logical thinking to bring back Dravidian ideas.
• Fight poverty and ensure everyone has a fair chance at well-being.
• Develop and promote state languages without other languages taking over.
• Give more power to state governments and promote a federal system in India.

Dravidian Identity

The protests against Hindi in 1965 made the central government stop trying to make Hindi the only official language. However, Hindi is still used a lot by the Indian government.

State Independence

After a period called The Emergency, more powers like education and healthcare were moved from state control to national control. After C.N. Annadurai's death, M. Karunanidhi announced that the party would push for "state autonomy." This means states would have more self-governance. In 1974, the DMK government asked the central government to give more powers to states. They wanted changes to the Indian Constitution to create a truly federal system.

Social Fairness

The DMK says it continues the work of the Justice Party. The DMK played a key role in supporting the first change to the Constitution. This change helped ensure reservations (special opportunities) for OBC groups. One of the DMK's main goals is to help OBCs and SCs. They have put in place policies to support these groups.

The DMK also changed the name of the disabled persons welfare board to "Differently Abled Persons Departments." They also changed official terms for transgender people to more respectful ones.

Party Symbol

The DMK's election symbol is a "sun rising from between two mountains." Their flag is black and red. This symbol was inspired by a play written by M. Karunanidhi in the 1950s. It represents the "rising" spirit of the Dravidian people.

In the 1957 election, the Election Commission did not officially recognize the DMK. So, the party members had to run as independent candidates. They could not use their "rising sun" symbol and had to use a "rooster" symbol instead.

Election Results

National Elections (Lok Sabha)

Year	Party leader	Seats won	Change in seats	Percentage of votes	Popular vote	Outcome
1962	C. N. Annadurai	7 / 41	5	18.64%	2,315,610	Opposition
1967		25 / 39	18	51.79%	7,996,264
1971	M. Karunanidhi	23 / 39	2	55.61%	8,869,095	Government
1977		1 / 39	22	37.84%	6,758,517	Opposition
1980		16 / 39	15	55.89%	10,290,515	Government
1984		2 / 39	14	37.04%	8,006,513	Opposition
1989		0 / 39	2	33.78%	8,918,905	Lost
1991		0 / 39		27.64%	6,823,581
1996		17 / 39	17	54.96%	14,940,474	Government
1998		6 / 39	11	42.72%	10,937,809	Opposition
1999		12 / 39	6	46.41%	12,638,602	Government
2004		16 / 39	4	57.40%	16,483,390
2009		18 / 39	2	42.54%	12,929,043
2014		0 / 39	18	23.16%	10,243,767	Lost
2019	M. K. Stalin	24 / 24	24	32.76%	14,363,332	Opposition
2024		22 / 22	2	26.93%	11,689,879	Opposition

State Assembly Elections

Year	Party leader	Seats won	Change in seats	Percentage of votes	Popular vote	Outcome
Tamil Nadu
1962	C. N. Annadurai	50 / 205	37	27.10%	3,435,633	Opposition
1967		137 / 234	87	40.69%	6,230,556	Government
1971	M. Karunanidhi	184 / 234	47	48.58%	7,654,935
1977		48 / 234	136	24.89%	4,258,771	Opposition
1980		37 / 234	11	22.1%	4,164,389
1984		24 / 234	13	29.3%	6,362,770	Others
1989		150 / 234	116	37.89%	9,135,220	Government
1991		2 / 234	148	22.5%	5,535,668	Others
1996		173 / 234	171	53.77%	14,600,748	Government
2001		31 / 234	142	30.90%	8,669,864	Opposition
2006		96 / 234	65	26.50%	8,728,716	Minority Government
2011		23 / 234	73	22.40%	8,249,991	Others
2016		89 / 234	66	31.39%	13,670,511	Opposition
2021	M. K. Stalin	133 / 234	44	37.7%	17,430,179	Government
Puducherry
1974	M. Karunanidhi	2 / 30	2		47,823	Opposition
1977		3 / 30	1		30,441
1980		14 / 30	11		68,030	Government
1985		5 / 30	9		87,754	Others
1990		9 / 30	4		101,127	Government
1991		4 / 30	5		96,607	Opposition
1996		7 / 30	3		105,392	Government
2001		7 / 30			83,679	Opposition
2006		7 / 30				Government
2011		3 / 30	4	10.68%	74,552	Opposition
2016		2 / 30	1	8.9%	70,836	Government
2021	M. K. Stalin	6 / 30	4	18.51%	154,858	Opposition

Important People in the Party

Party Leaders Over Time

Presidents

No.	Portrait	Name	Time in office
			Started	Ended	Total days
1		M. Karunanidhi	27 July 1969	7 August 2018	49 years, 11 days
Acting		M. K. Stalin	4 January 2017	27 August 2018	8 years, 210 days
2			28 August 2018	Still in office

General Secretaries

No.	Portrait	Name	Time in office
			Started	Ended	Total days
1		C. N. Annadurai	17 September 1949	24 April 1955	13 years, 350 days
			25 September 1960	3 February 1969
2		V. R. Nedunchezhiyan	24 April 1955	24 September 1960	13 years, 254 days
			4 February 1969	16 May 1977
3		K. Anbazhagan	17 May 1977	7 March 2020	42 years, 295 days
4		Duraimurugan	9 September 2020	Still in office	4 years, 327 days

Chief Ministers from DMK

Madras State

• C. N. Annadurai: March 6, 1967 – January 13, 1969

Tamil Nadu

• C. N. Annadurai: January 14, 1969 – February 3, 1969
• V. R. Nedunchezhiyan: February 3, 1969 – February 10, 1969
• M. Karunanidhi: February 10, 1969 – January 31, 1976; January 27, 1989 – January 30, 1991; May 13, 1996 – May 13, 2001; May 13, 2006 – May 15, 2011
• M. K. Stalin: May 7, 2021 – Still in office

Deputy Chief Ministers from DMK

Tamil Nadu

• M. K. Stalin: May 29, 2009 – May 15, 2011

Major Parties Formed from DMK

Two main parties have been formed from the DMK:

• All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK): Started on October 17, 1972, by M. G. Ramachandran.
• Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK): Started on May 6, 1994, by Vaiko.

DMK and Media

Tmt. Kanimozhi Karunanidhi
Deputy General Secretary of the party

The DMK party has two newspapers:

• The Rising Sun (a weekly newspaper in English)
• Murasoli (a daily newspaper in Tamil)

Kalaignar TV is a television channel that started on September 15, 2007. It is managed by Kanimozhi Karunanidhi and Dayalu Ammal. Kalaignar TV has other channels too, like Kalaignar Isai Aruvi (music), Kalaignar Seithigal (news), Kalaignar Sirippoli (comedy), Kalaignar Chithiram (cartoon), and Kalaignar Murasu (movies).

Images for kids

• 

  The Rising Sun, the DMK's election symbol.

• 

  The flag of the DMK party.