Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Political party in India}}
{{Short description|Indian political party}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2019}}
{{pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2024}}
{{multiple issues|
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{more citations needed|date=December 2013}}
{{update|date=December 2013}}
}}
{{Infobox Indian political party
{{Infobox Indian political party
|party_name         = Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam
|party_name       = Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam
|abbreviation      = DMDK
|colorcode         = {{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}
|logo              =
|abbreviation      = DMDK
|colorcode         = {{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}
|general_secretary = Premalatha Vijayakanth
|general_secretary = [[Vijayakanth]]
|ppchairman        =
|loksabha_leader   =  
|loksabha_leader   =  
|rajyasabha_leader =  
|rajyasabha_leader = L. K. Sudhish
|founder           = [[Vijayakanth]]
|treasurer        = L. K. Sudhish
|foundation         = {{Start date and years ago|df=yes|p=y|2005|09|14}}
|founder           = [[Vijayakant]]
|headquarters       = 125/7, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, [[Koyambedu]], [[Chennai]]-600107, [[Tamil Nadu]]
|foundation       = {{start date and age|df=y|2005|09|14}}
|eci               = State Party<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18.01.2013|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/ElectoralLaws/OrdersNotifications/ElecSym19012013_eng.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=9 May 2013|location=India|year=2013}}</ref>
|headquarters     = Captain Aalayam,<br/>125/7,&nbsp;Jawaharlal&nbsp;Nehru&nbsp;Salai,<br/>[[Koyambedu]], [[Chennai]] – 600107, [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]].
|alliance           = 1) DMDK-Third Front : (2006-2011), (2012-2014), (2017-2019)<br>2) [[AIADMK]] : (2011-2012)<br>3) [[People's Welfare Front|MNK]] : (2015-2016)<br>4) [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|NDA]] : (2014-2015) & (2019-2021)
|students          = DMDK Student Wing
|national_convener  = [[Vijayakanth]]
|youth            = DMDK Youth Wing
|ideology          = [[Populism]]<br>[[Secularism]]<br>[[Social democracy]]
|women            = DMDK Women's Wing
|position          = [[Centre politics|Centre]]
|labour            = Desiya Murpokku Union Federation
|publication        =
|ideology          = {{ubl|[[Populism]]|[[Secularism]]|[[Dravidianism]]|[[Social democracy]]}}
|youth              =
|colours          = {{colour box|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}} [[Yellow]]
|students          =
|eci               = [[List of political parties in India#State parties|State party]]<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18.01.2013|url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/ElectoralLaws/OrdersNotifications/ElecSym19012013_eng.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=9 May 2013|location=India|year=2013}}</ref>
|women              =
| alliance         =
|labour            =
* '''Regional Alliances'''<br/>[[Secular Progressive Alliance|SPA]] (since 2026)
|peasants          =
* '''National Alliance'''<br />[[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance|INDIA]] (since 2026)  
|website            = {{url|http://www.dmdkparty.com}}
{{hidden|Former Alliances|
|symbol            = [[File:Indian Election Symbol Nagara.svg|150px]] <br /> '''Nagara'''<ref>{{cite web|title=List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 10.03.2014  |url=http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/ElectoralLaws/OrdersNotifications/year2014/EnglishNotification_12032014.pdf|publisher=Election Commission of India|access-date=10 June 2014|location=India|year=2014}}</ref>
*[[AIADMK-led Alliance|AIADMK+]] (2011-2012; 2019-2021; 2024–2026) ([[Tamil Nadu]])
|loksabha_seats     = {{Composition bar|0|543|hex=#FFE600}}
* [[Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam|AMMK+]] <br/> (2021) (Tamil Nadu)
|rajyasabha_seats   = {{Composition bar|0|245|hex=#FFE600}}
* [[National Democratic Alliance|NDA]] (2014-2016; 2019-2021)
|state_seats_name   = [[State Legislative Assembly (India)|State Legislative Assemblies]]  
* [[People's Welfare Front]] <br/> (2016) (Tamil Nadu)}}
|state_seats       = {{hidden
|loksabha_seats   = {{Composition bar|0|543|hex={{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|Indian states
|rajyasabha_seats = {{Composition bar|1|245|hex={{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|headerstyle        = background:#ccccff
|state_seats_name = [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
|style              = text-align:center; |
|state_seats       = {{Composition bar|0|234|hex={{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
{{Composition bar|0|234|hex=#FFE600}}<small>([[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]])</small>
|no_states        = {{Composition bar|0|31|hex={{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
{{Composition bar|0|30|hex=#FFE600}}<small>([[Puducherry Legislative Assembly]])</small>
|symbol            = [[File:Indian Election Symbol Nagara.svg|120px|Nagara]]
|flag              = Flag DMDK.png
|website          = [https://dmdkparty.com/ www.dmdkparty.com]
}}
}}
|predecessor        =
{{Dravidian politics-col}}
|international      =  
The '''Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam''' ({{translation|National Progressive Dravidian Federation}}; {{small|abbr.}} '''DMDK''') is an Indian [[Regionalism (politics)|regional]] [[political party]] in the [[Federated state|state]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. It is a [[Dravidian parties|Dravidian party]] founded by the former [[List of leaders of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] [[Vijayakant]] (Captain) at [[Madurai]] on 14 September 2005. The party was led by its founder until 14 December 2023 from its date of founding. From 14 December 2023, the DMDK is led by Vijayakant's wife Premalatha Vijayakanth as general secretary of the party. The party served as the main opposition party in the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] from 27 May 2011 to 21 February 2016. The headquarters of the party is called Captain Aalayam, which is located at Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, [[Koyambedu]], [[Chennai]].
|colours            ={{colour box|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}} Yellow Colour
 
==History==
===Vijayakant era (2005–23)===
{{multiple image
|background color = #FFFFB2
|align = right
|caption_align = center
|direction = vertical
|width = 220
|image1 = Vijaykanth_at_the_Sagaptham_Audio_Launch.jpg
|caption1 = '''Dr. Vijayakant'''<br/>Founder of the party
}}
}}
The '''Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam''' ({{trans|[[India|National]] [[Progressivism|Progressive]] [[Dravidian peoples|Dravidian]] Federation}}; {{small|abbr.}} '''DMDK''') is an Indian [[Regionalism (politics)|regional]] [[political party]] in the [[Federated state|state]] of [[Tamil Nadu]]. DMDK is a [[Dravidian party]] founded by [[Vijayakanth]] at [[Madurai]] on 14 September 2005. The party head office is in [[Koyambedu]], [[Chennai]].
The party was founded on 14 September 2005, as ''Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam'' (DMDK) by the former [[List of leaders of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] [[Vijayakant]], a veteran [[Cinema of Tamil Nadu|Tamil film]] star and popular politician. He assumed the responsibility of the founder-president of the party. Ramu Vasanthan, who was the state president of the fans' forum, took charge as the general secretary of the party. On 17 July 2009, he died of a cardiac arrest. In 2014, the party's founder-president, Vijayakant, took over the position that had previously been vacant.
 
In the [[2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2006 assembly election]], the party contested all 234 seats without an alliance and bagged only one seat with 8.38% of the vote, that of its founder-president Vijayakant from [[Virudhachalam Assembly constituency|Vriddhachalam]] constituency, who served as a member of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]. Other candidates of this party who contested in other constituencies in this election failed.
 
In the [[2009 Indian general election|2009 general election]], it contested 40 seats—39 in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry—without an alliance and lost in all the constituencies with 0.75% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|title=DMDK improves poll showing|work=The times of India Chennai edition|page=3|date=18 May 2009}}</ref>
 
Following widespread corruption, a price rise, a power cut, and allegations of nepotism against the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] government, in the [[2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2011 assembly election]], the party, in alliance with parties like the left and former [[chief minister of Tamil Nadu]] [[J. Jayalalithaa]]'s [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK),<ref>
{{Cite news| title = Vijayakant's party to join hands with AIADMK to 'oust DMK'| url = http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/25/stories/2011022562130100.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110227235337/http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/25/stories/2011022562130100.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2011-02-27| access-date = 2010-02-25 | work = [[The Hindu]]| date = 2011-02-25| location=Chennai, India}}</ref> swept the polls, winning 202 seats, with the DMDK winning 29 out of 40 which it contested, and got the opposition status in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly by making it a second largest party in the legislative assembly next only to its ally AIADMK pushing DMK to third position and Vijayakanth recognized as the leader of the opposition in the assembly. The large victory also earned recognition and a permanent election symbol [[Nagara (drum)|Nagara]] from the [[Election Commission of India]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=242863| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520211209/http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=242863| url-status=dead| archive-date=20 May 2011| title=தே.மு.தி.க.,வுக்கு தேர்தல் கமிஷன் அங்கீகாரம்: சின்னத்தை இழக்கிறது பா.ம.க.| publisher=Dinamalar| date=18 May 2011| access-date=18 May 2011}}</ref> Vijayakanth stepped down as leader of the opposition on 21 February 2016, after eight DMDK party MLAs resigned.<ref>
{{Cite news| title = Vijaykant loses Opposition leader post; after 8 rebel MLAs resign| url = https://theregister.co.in/india/vijaykant-dmdk-mla-resign/| access-date = 2016-02-21| location = India| work = Register India}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
 
The party's performance began to deteriorate after the [[2014 Indian general election|2014 general election]]; it fought the [[Lok Sabha]] election in an alliance with the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]-led [[National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oneindia.com/india/confirmed-dmdk-bjp-form-alliance-in-tamil-nadu-for-lok-sabha-polls-1402705.html|title=Confirmed: DMDK-BJP form alliance in Tamil Nadu for LS polls|date=26 February 2014|website=www.oneindia.com}}</ref> [[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], [[Pattali Makkal Katchi]], and [[Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi|Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi]] and [[Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi]]'s [[Social Democratic Alliance]] are the other allies of the National Democratic Alliance in [[Tamil Nadu]]. In the NDA alliance, the party had the highest number of seats, which were 14 in number. Despite the big hype, the party lost all 14 seats to AIADMK candidates. But it was the first time in 52 years that the DMK alliance was pushed to third place by the number of seats, and this election gave confidence to most parties that the future of Tamil Nadu lies in a coalition government.
 
The DMDK decided to run alongside the [[People's Welfare Front]] (PWA) in the [[2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election]], as part of the "Captain Vijayakanth Alliance,"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/tamil-nadu-polls-joining-the-third-front-the-captain-worries-dmk-and-aiadmk/|title=TN polls: Joining the Third Front, Captain Vijayakanth worries DMK and AIADMK|date=23 March 2016}}</ref> which included the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]], [[Communist Party of India]], [[Vaiko]]'s Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and [[Thol. Thirumavalavan]]'s [[Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi]]. The DMDK performed poorly in the election, not winning even a single constituency and losing deposits in the majority of its seats. It also witnessed a vote swing of -5.49% from the 2011 assembly elections.
 
In the [[2019 Indian general election|2019 general elections]], after several rounds of talks with different political parties, The move comes after the DMDK’s attempts to make an alliance with the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], which has already entered into a pre-poll alliance with the Congress and several others, failed. DMDK contested with the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]]-led [[National Democratic Alliance]] (NDA) in [[Tamil Nadu]] for the [[17th Lok Sabha]] polls, along with [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], [[Pattali Makkal Katchi]], [[Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar)]], and some unrecognized parties. [[Vijayakanth]] wants to prove his vote bank strength in this election, but the party was humiliated and lost all four that it contested out of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The [[Secular Progressive Alliance]] (SPA), a DMK-led alliance consisting of all the major opposition parties in the state, swept the election by winning 38 seats.
 
In the [[2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2021 assembly election]], the DMDK, which had the support of the [[Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam]], [[Social Democratic Party of India]], and [[All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen]], lost 60 seats contested and saw a vote percentage swing of -1.96% compared to previous assembly elections. After the election, the DMK emerged as the ruling party, and the AIADMK emerged as the main party of the opposition in the assembly.
 
On 26 December 2023, Vijayakanth was admitted to [[MIOT International Hospital|MIOT International Hospital, Chennai]], due to pneumonia. After a prolonged illness, he died after testing positive for COVID-19 on 28 December 2023.


[[File:Street Scene with Movie Posters - Thanjavur - India.JPG|thumb|DMDK poster in [[Thanjavur]]]]
===Premallatha Vijayakant era (2023–present)===
This party contested all 234 seats in the [[2006 Tamil Nadu state assembly election|state elections]] in May 2006 with Vijayakanth contesting [[Vridhachalam (State Assembly Constituency)|Vridhachalam]]. The party polled almost 30 lakh votes (a total of about a 10% share). All the candidates of the DMDK, with the sole exception of Vijayakanth, lost the elections in 2006. In by-elections to Madurai Central assembly constituency, DMDK secured around 17,000 votes, which was 2,000 votes less than [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (AIADMK). DMDK secured many seats in Local Body elections. Vijaykanth and his party contested the 2009 Lok Sabha polls as an independent party in all 39 constituencies in the state, winning no seats. The party won 29 seats in the [[2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2011 assembly election]] and became the [[Official Opposition (India)|official opposition]] party with Vijayakanth as the [[Leader of the Opposition (India)|Opposition Leader]].
On 14 December 2023, the former [[List of leaders of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] [[Vijayakant]], announced and appointed Premallatha Vijayakant as the general secretary of the party in the presence of the party's deputy secretaries at the General Council Meeting held in [[Chennai]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Premalatha Vijayakant elected as DMDK general secretary|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/premalatha-vijayakant-elected-as-dmdk-general-secretary/article67637488.ece|access-date=14 December 2023|work=The Hindu|date=28 December 2023}}</ref> Since Vijayakant's demise, the party is being completely led by Premallatha as the general secretary of the party.
 
In the [[2024 Indian general election|2024 general election]], the DMDK joined the [[AIADMK-led Alliance]] in [[Tamil Nadu]] for the [[18th Lok Sabha]] polls, along with [[Puthiya Tamilagam]] (PT) and the [[Social Democratic Party of India]] (SDPI). The DMDK was contested in five constituencies, including [[Virudhunagar Lok Sabha constituency|Virudhunagar]], which was contested by V. Vijaya Prabhakaran, the party's founder [[Vijayakant]] and the general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant's son. The party lost in all the constituencies it contested, and the [[Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance]] swept the election in Tamil Nadu.<ref>{{cite web|date=2024-06-04|title=Tamil Nadu election results 2024: DMK alliance sweeps Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Kallakurichi|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/dmk-alliance-sweeps-cuddalore-villupuram-and-kallakurichi/article68251459.ece#:~:text=The%20DMK%2Dled%20alliance%20made,contestants%20from%20the%20region%20%2D%20M.K.|access-date=2024-06-04|website=The Hindu|language=en}}</ref>
 
The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) has allied with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
 
DMDK leader Premallatha Vijayakant confirmed the decision after meeting Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, saying it fulfilled late founder Vijayakant’s wish.<ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/dmdk-joins-dmk-alliance-ahead-of-tamil-nadu-polls/articleshow/128541801.cms
|title=DMDK joins DMK alliance ahead of Tamil Nadu polls
|website=Times of India
|language=en
|access-date=2026-02-14
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/tamil-nadu-assembly-election-dmdk-joins-dmk-bloc-alliance-will-win-over-200-seats-says-premalatha-vijayakanth/article70650732.ece
|title=Tamil Nadu assembly election: DMDK joins DMK bloc, ‘will win over 200 seats’, says Premalatha Vijayakanth
|website=The Hindu
|language=en
|access-date=2026-02-14
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web
|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/tamil-nadu/dmdk-joins-dmk-alliance-ahead-of-2026-tamil-nadu-assembly-polls
|title=DMDK joins DMK alliance ahead of 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly polls
|website=The News Minute
|language=en
|access-date=2026-02-14
}}</ref>


==Electoral performance==
==Electoral performance==
===Indian general elections===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+[[File:Lok Sabha.svg|25px]] [[Lok Sabha]] Elections
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Year
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Lok Sabha
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Party leader
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Seats contested
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Seats won
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Change in seats
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Percentage of votes
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Vote swing
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Popular vote
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Outcome
|-
|[[2009 Indian general election|2009]]
|[[15th Lok Sabha|15th]]
|rowspan=3|[[Vijayakant]]
|40
|{{Composition bar compact|0|543|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|{{steady}}
|0.75%
|{{steady}}
|3,126,117
|rowspan=4 {{lost|Lost}}
|-
|[[2014 Indian general election|2014]]
|[[16th Lok Sabha|16th]]
|14
|{{Composition bar compact|0|543|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|{{steady}}
|0.38%
|{{decrease}} 0.37%
|2,078,843
|-
|[[2019 Indian general election|2019]]
|[[17th Lok Sabha|17th]]
|4
|{{Composition bar compact|0|543|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|{{steady}}
|0.15%
|{{decrease}} 0.23%
|929,590
|-
|[[2024 Indian general election|2024]]
|[[18th Lok Sabha|18th]]
|Premallatha&nbsp;Vijayakant
|5
|{{Composition bar compact|0|543|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|{{steady}}
|0.17%
|{{increase}} 0.02%
|1,128,616
|}


=== Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elections ===
===State legislative assembly elections===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
! Year
|+[[File:TamilNadu Logo.svg|25px]] [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]] Elections<ref name="TN_Results">{{cite web|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/category/90-tamil-nadu/|title=Tamil Nadu Assembly Election Results|date=September 2021 |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|access-date=5 April 2022}}</ref>
! Legislature
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Year
! Party leader
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Assembly
! Seats won
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Party leader
! Change in seats
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Seats contested
! Percentage of votes
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Seats won
! Votes Swing
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Change in seats
! Popular vote
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Percentage of votes
! Outcome
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Vote swing
|-  
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Popular vote
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Outcome
|-
|[[2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2006]]
|[[2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2006]]
|rowspan=4| [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]  
|[[13th Tamil Nadu Assembly|13th]]
|rowspan=4|[[Vijayakanth]]
|rowspan=4|[[Vijayakant]]
|234
|{{Composition bar compact|1|234|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|{{Composition bar compact|1|234|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|{{Increase}} 1
|{{increase}} 1
|8.4%
|8.38%
|27,64,223  
|{{steady}}
| ''New''
|2,764,223
|{{lost|Lost}}
|{{partial|Others}}
|-
|-
|[[2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2011]]
|[[2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2011]]
|{{Composition bar compact|29|41|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|[[14th Tamil Nadu Assembly|14th]]
|{{Increase}} 28
|41
|{{Composition bar compact|29|234|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|{{increase}} 28
|7.88%
|7.88%
| 29,03,828
|{{decrease}} 0.50%
|{{Decrease}} 0.5%
|2,903,828
|{{no2|Opposition}}
|style="background:#FFA07A;"|Opposition
|-
|-
|[[2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2016]]
|[[2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2016]]
|{{Composition bar compact|0|104|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|[[15th Tamil Nadu Assembly|15th]]
|{{Decrease}} 29
|104
|2.41%
|{{Composition bar compact|0|234|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|12,34,384
|{{decrease}} 29
|{{Decrease}} 5.47%
|2.39%
|{{lost|Lost}}
|{{decrease}} 5.49%
|1,034,384
|rowspan=2 {{lost|Lost}}
|-
|-
|[[2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2021]]
|[[2021 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2021]]
|{{Composition bar compact|0|60|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|[[16th Tamil Nadu Assembly|16th]]
|60
|{{Composition bar compact|0|234|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|{{steady}}
|{{steady}}
|0.43%
|0.43%
|2,00,156
|{{decrease}} 1.96%
|{{Decrease}} 1.98%
|200,157
|-
|[[2026 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2026]]
|[[17th Tamil Nadu Assembly|17th]]
|Premallatha&nbsp;Vijayakant
|colspan=7 {{TBA}}
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+[[File:Emblem of the Government of Puducherry.png|25px]] [[Puducherry Legislative Assembly]] Elections<ref name="PY_Results">{{cite web|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/category/87-puducherry/|title=Puducherry Assembly Election Results|date=3 June 2021 |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|access-date=5 April 2022}}</ref>
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Year
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Assembly
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Party leader
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Seats contested
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Seats won
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Change in seats
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Percentage of votes
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Vote swing
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Popular vote
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Outcome
|-
|[[2006 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election|2006]]
|12th
|rowspan=4|[[Vijayakant]]
|24
|{{Composition bar compact|0|30|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|{{steady}}
|2.73%
|{{Steady}}
|15,405
|rowspan=4 {{lost|Lost}}
|-
|[[2011 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election|2011]]
|13th
|1
|{{Composition bar compact|0|30|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|{{steady}}
|0.85%
|{{decrease}} 1.88%
|5,966
|-
|[[2016 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election|2016]]
|[[14th Puducherry Assembly|14th]]
|6
|{{Composition bar compact|0|30|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|{{steady}}
|0.11%
|{{decrease}} 0.74%
|850
|-
|[[2021 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election|2021]]
|[[15th Puducherry Assembly|15th]]
|26
|{{Composition bar compact|0|30|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|{{steady}}
|0.30%
|{{increase}} 0.19%
|2,524
|-
|[[2026 Puducherry Legislative Assembly election|2026]]
|[[16th Puducherry Assembly|16th]]
|Premallatha&nbsp;Vijayakant
|colspan=7 {{TBA}}
|}
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|+[[File:Seal of the National Capital Territory of Delhi.svg|25px]] [[Delhi Legislative Assembly|National Capital Territory of Delhi Legislative Assembly]] Elections<ref name="DL_Results">{{cite web|url=https://old.eci.gov.in/files/category/70-tamil-nadu/|title=Delhi Assembly Election Results|date=27 May 2020 |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]]|access-date=5 April 2022}}</ref>
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Year
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Assembly
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Party leader
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Seats contested
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Seats won
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Change in seats
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Percentage of votes
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Vote swing
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Popular vote
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Outcome
|-
|[[2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election|2013]]
|[[5th Delhi Assembly|5th]]
|[[Vijayakant]]
|11
|{{Composition bar compact|0|70|{{party color|Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}}}
|{{Steady}}
|0.03%
|{{Steady}}
|2,285
|{{lost|Lost}}
|{{lost|Lost}}
|}
|}


=== Lok Sabha elections ===
==Current office bearers and prominent members==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style=text-align:center
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:left; background:#FFFFE5"
! Election
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Member
! Votes Polled
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Position in government
! Seats Won
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Party position
|-
|Premallatha Vijayakant
|style="text-align:center"|{{steady}}
|General Secretary
|-
|V. Elangovan
|style="text-align:center"|{{steady}}
|Presidium Chairman
|-
|L. K. Sudhish
|style="text-align:center"|{{steady}}
|Treasurer
|-
|[[Alagaapuram&nbsp;R.&nbsp;Mohanraj]]
|
*Former [[List of leaders of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly#List of deputy leaders of the opposition|Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly]]
*Former [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] from [[Salem North Assembly constituency|Salem North]]
|Propaganda Secretary
|-
|-
|[[2009 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu]]  
|[[B. Parthasarathy]]
|31,26,117
|
|{{Composition bar compact|0|39|hex=#99FF00}}
*Former [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] from [[Virugampakkam Assembly constituency|Virugampakkam]]
|Deputy General Secretary
|-
|-
|[[2014 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu]]
|Selva Anburaj
| 20,79,392
|style="text-align:center"|{{steady}}
|{{Composition bar compact|0|14|hex=#99FF00}}
|Captain Manram Secretary
|-
|-
|[[2019 Indian general election in Tamil Nadu]] || |9,29,590<ref>{{cite web |url=http://results.eci.gov.in/pc/en/partywise/partywiseresult-S22.htm?st=S22 |title= Results |website=results.eci.gov.in|access-date=2021-04-18}}</ref>
|V. Vijayaprabhakaran
|{{Composition bar compact|0|4|hex=#99FF00}}
|style="text-align:center"|{{steady}}
|Youth Wing Secretary
|-
|Malathi Vinoth
|style="text-align:center"|{{steady}}
|Women's Wing Secretary
|-
|[[S. Senthilkumar (Thiruverumbur politician)|S. Senthilkumar]]
|
*Former [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|Member]] of the [[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] from [[Thiruverumbur Assembly constituency|Thiruverumbur]]
|Information Technology Wing Secretary
|-
|M. R. Panneerselvam
|style="text-align:center"|{{steady}}
|Advocates Wing Secretary
|-
|A. M. Shanmuga Sundaram
|style="text-align:center"|{{steady}}
|Students' Wing Secretary
|-
|K. Shanmugavel
|style="text-align:center"|{{steady}}
|Trade Wing Secretary
|-
|V. Meenakshisundaram
|style="text-align:center"|{{steady}}
|Weaver's Wing Secretary
|}
|}


== 2009 Lok Sabha Election ==
==List of party leaders==
{{Main|Indian general election in Tamil Nadu, 2009}}
===Presidents===
DMDK contested all 39 seats independently in [[Tamil Nadu]] in the [[15th Lok Sabha]] election and lost all of them. The party, however, made strong inroads in the heartland of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK). The party polled 30.73 lakh votes of the total of 3.02 crore valid votes polled in the state representing roughly a vote share of 10.09%. This is higher than the 8.38% vote share polled by him during the 2006 assembly election. It polled more than one lakh votes in nine constituencies, more than 75,000 in 19 constituencies and more than 50,000 in 35 constituencies including [[Puducherry (Lok Sabha constituency)|Puducherry]].
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|No.
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Portrait
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Name<br/>{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
!colspan=3 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Term in office
|-
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Assumed office
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Left office
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Time in office
|-
!1
|[[File:Vijaykanth at the Sagaptham Audio Launch.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[Vijayakant]]'''<br/><small>(1952–2023)</small>
|14 September 2005
|28 December 2023
|18 years, 105 days
|}


Though his party did not win any seat, it appears to have made the difference between winning and losing for several candidates by having a vote share larger than the margin of victory. Except LK Sudhish and Austin in [[Kanyakumari (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kanyakumari]] and K Pandiarajan in [[Virudhunagar (Lok Sabha constituency)|Virudhunagar]] constituency, none of the other candidates had a standing of their own and observers believe the votes polled by him indicate the public support for his candidacy.<ref>{{cite news|title=DMDK improves poll showing|work=The times of India Chennai edition|page=3|date=18 May 2009}}</ref>
===General Secretaries===
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|No.
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Portrait
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Name<br/>{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
!colspan=3 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Term in office
|-
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Assumed office
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Left office
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Time in office
|-
!1
|[[File:Blank.svg|100px]]<!-- Do not use placeholder images here per WP:IPH -->
|'''S. Ramu Vasanthan'''<br/><small>(1955–2009)</small>
|14 September 2005
|17 July 2009
|3 years, 306 days
|-
!2
|[[File:Vijaykanth at the Sagaptham Audio Launch.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[Vijayakant]]'''<br/><small>(1952–2023)</small>
|1 June 2014
|14 December 2023
|9 years, 196 days
|-
!3
|[[File:Blank.svg|100px]]
|'''Premallatha Vijayakant'''<br/><small>({{Abbr|b.|born in}} 1969)</small>
|14 December 2023
|''Incumbent''
|{{age in years and days|2023|12|14}}
|}


== 2011 assembly election ==
==Legislative leaders==
{{Main|2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election}}
===List of leaders of the opposition===
DMDK had remained unaligned and contested all the previous elections independently until
====Leaders of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly====
2011 election. In an effort — claimed by the party — to defeat the ruling [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]], it allied with [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] front in a decision made on 25 February 2011.<ref>
{{see|Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly}}
{{Cite news| title = Vijayakanth's party to join hands with AIADMK to ‘oust DMK'| url = http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/25/stories/2011022562130100.htm| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110227235337/http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/25/stories/2011022562130100.htm| url-status = dead| archive-date = 2011-02-27| access-date = 2010-02-25 | work = [[The Hindu]]| date = 2011-02-25| location=Chennai, India}}</ref> It won 29 of the 41 seats contested making it a second largest party in Tamil Nadu next only to its ally ADMK pushing DMK to third position. Thus, the party became the official opposition party with Vijayakanth becoming the opposition leader. The large victory also earned recognition and a permanent election symbol from the election commission.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=242863| title=தே.மு.தி.க.,வுக்கு தேர்தல் கமிஷன் அங்கீகாரம்: சின்னத்தை இழக்கிறது பா.ம.க.,| publisher=Dinamalar| date=18 May 2011| access-date=18 May 2011}}</ref> On 21 February 2016 Vijayakanth lost leader of opposition post after 8 DMDK party MLAs resigned.<ref>
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
{{Cite news| title = Vijaykant loses Opposition leader post; after 8 rebel MLAs resign| url = https://theregister.co.in/india/vijaykant-dmdk-mla-resign/| access-date = 2016-02-21| location = India| work = Register India}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|No.
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Portrait
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Name<br/>{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
!colspan=3 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Term in office
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|[[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|{{font color|#000000|#FFFF00|Assembly}}]]<br/>{{small|([[Elections in Tamil Nadu|{{font color|#000000|#FFFF00|Election}}]])}}
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Elected constituency
|-
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Assumed office
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Left office
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Time in office
|-
!1
|[[File:Vijaykanth at the Sagaptham Audio Launch.jpg|100px]]
|'''[[Vijayakant]]'''<br/><small>(1952–2023)</small>
|27 May 2011
|21 February 2016
|4 years, 270 days
|[[14th Tamil Nadu Assembly|14th]]<br/>{{small|([[2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2011]])}}
|[[Rishivandiyam Assembly constituency|Rishivandiyam]]
|}


== 2014 Lok Sabha Election ==
===List of deputy leaders of the opposition===
DMDK fought Lok Sabha Election through an alliance with [[BJP]] led [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|NDA]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oneindia.com/india/confirmed-dmdk-bjp-form-alliance-in-tamil-nadu-for-lok-sabha-polls-1402705.html|title=Confirmed: DMDK-BJP form alliance in Tamil Nadu for LS polls|date=26 February 2014|website=www.oneindia.com}}</ref> [[MDMK]], [[Pattali Makkal Katchi|PMK]], [[Kongunadu Makkal Desia Katchi|KMDK]] and [[Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi|IJK]] led [[Social Democratic Alliance]] are the other allies of [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|NDA]] in [[Tamil Nadu]]. In the NDA alliance, this party is the one with highest number of seats which are 14 in number. Despite the big hype, the party lost all 14 seats to AIADMK candidates. But this is the first time in 52 years that DMK alliance was pushed to third place by the number of seats and this election had given the confidence to most parties that future of Tamil Nadu lies in coalition government.
====Deputy Leaders of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly====
{|class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|No.
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Portrait
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Name<br/>{{small|(Birth–Death)}}
!colspan=3 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Term in office
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|[[Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|{{font color|#000000|#FFFF00|Assembly}}]]<br/>{{small|([[Elections in Tamil Nadu|{{font color|#000000|#FFFF00|Election}}]])}}
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Elected constituency
!rowspan=2 style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|[[List of leaders of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly|{{font color|#000000|#FFFF00|Leader of the Opposition}}]]
|-
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Assumed office
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Left office
!style="background-color:#FFFF00;color:black"|Time in office
|-
!1
|[[File:Blank.svg|100px]]<!-- Do not use placeholder images here per WP:IPH -->
|'''[[Panruti S. Ramachandran]]'''<br/><small>({{Abbr|b.|born in}} 1937)</small>
|27 May 2011
|10 December 2013
|2 years, 197 days
|rowspan=2|[[14th Tamil Nadu Assembly|14th]]<br/>{{small|([[2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election|2011]])}}
|[[Alandur Assembly constituency|Alandur]]
|rowspan=2|[[Vijayakant]]
|-
!2
|[[File:Blank.svg|100px]]<!-- Do not use placeholder images here per WP:IPH -->
|'''[[Alagaapuram R. Mohanraj]]'''<br/><small>({{Abbr|b.|born in}} 1954)</small>
|31 January 2014
|21 February 2016
|2 years, 21 days
|[[Salem North Assembly constituency|Salem North]]
|}


== Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, 2016 ==
==See also==
For the [[2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election]], the DMDK has decided to contest the polls along with the [[People's Welfare Front]] (PWA) – an alliance of four parties including CPI(M), CPI, Vaiko’s MDMK and Thol Thirumavalavan’s Dalit party VCK, known as Captain Vijayakanth Alliance<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/tamil-nadu-polls-joining-the-third-front-the-captain-worries-dmk-and-aiadmk/|title=TN polls: Joining the Third Front, Captain Vijayakanth worries DMK and AIADMK|date=23 March 2016}}</ref>
*[[Politics of India]]
The DMDK performed poorly in the election by not winning even a single constituency and losing deposit in majority of its places. DMDK also witnessed a vote swing of -5.8% from 2011 General elections.
*[[Elections in India]]
*[[Politics of Tamil Nadu]]
*[[Elections in Tamil Nadu]]
*[[List of political parties in India]]
*[[List of political parties in Tamil Nadu]]


== 2019 Lok Sabha Election ==
==References==
DMDK is contesting Lok Sabha elections with [[National Democratic Alliance (India)|National Democratic Alliance]] in Tamil Nadu for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
{{reflist|2}}


After several rounds of talks with different political  parties, at last DMDK got four seats in the NDA alliance.
==External links==
{{commons and category}}
*{{official website}}
*[http://in.rediff.com/election/2006/may/08pinter.htm Vijaykanth's interview to rediff.com]
*[https://www.facebook.com/pages/தேமுதிக-தலைமைக்கழக-இணையதள-அணி/685873961437219 தேமுதிக Official Facebook Link]
*{{GovPubs|Desiya%20Murpokku%20Dravida%20Kazhagam|DMDK}}


The move comes after the DMDK’s attempts to make an alliance with the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK), which has already entered into a pre-poll alliance with the Congress and several others, failed.
{{Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam}}
{{Dravidian politics}}
{{Indian political parties}}


Captain Vijayakanth wants to prove his vote bank strength in this election .
[[Category:2005 establishments in Asia]]
 
[[Category:2005 establishments in India]]
On March 18, 2019, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) has announced its list of four candidates for the Lok Sabha elections. Azhagarsamy will contest polls from Virudhunagar, LK Sudhish from Kallakurichi, Ilankovan from Tiruchi and Mohan Raj from Chennai (North).
[[Category:2005 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
 
[[Category:Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam]]
== References ==
{{Reflist}}
 
==External links==
* [http://in.rediff.com/election/2006/may/08pinter.htm Vijaykanth's interview to rediff.com]
* [https://www.facebook.com/pages/தேமுதிக-தலைமைக்கழக-இணையதள-அணி/685873961437219 தேமுதிக Official Facebook Link]
 
[[Category:Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam| ]]
[[Category:Dravidian political parties]]
[[Category:Dravidian political parties]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2005]]
[[Category:Political parties in Asia]]
[[Category:Political parties in Puducherry]]
[[Category:Political parties in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Political parties in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2005]]
[[Category:Progressive parties]]
[[Category:2005 establishments in Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Recognised state political parties in India]]
[[Category:Political parties in India]]
[[Category:Regionalist parties in India]]
[[Category:State political parties in India]]
[[Category:State political parties in Tamil Nadu]][[Category:Former member parties of the National Democratic Alliance]]

Latest revision as of 20:36, 24 March 2026


Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam
AbbreviationDMDK
General SecretaryPremalatha Vijayakanth
Rajya Sabha leaderL. K. Sudhish
TreasurerL. K. Sudhish
FounderVijayakant
Founded14 September 2005; 20 years ago (2005-09-14)
HeadquartersCaptain Aalayam,
125/7, Jawaharlal Nehru Salai,
Koyambedu, Chennai – 600107, Tamil Nadu, India.
Student wingDMDK Student Wing
Youth wingDMDK Youth Wing
Women's wingDMDK Women's Wing
Labour wingDesiya Murpokku Union Federation
Ideology
Colours  Yellow
ECI StatusState party[1]
Alliance
  • Regional Alliances
    SPA (since 2026)
  • National Alliance
    INDIA (since 2026)
Former Alliances
Seats in Lok Sabha
0 / 543
Seats in Rajya Sabha
1 / 245
Seats in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
0 / 234
Number of states and union territories in government
0 / 31
Election symbol
Nagara
Party flag
File:Flag DMDK.png
Website
www.dmdkparty.com
Articles related to
Dravidian politics
Varied topics
Forerunners
Dravidian parties
Chief Ministers

The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (transl. National Progressive Dravidian Federation; abbr. DMDK) is an Indian regional political party in the state of Tamil Nadu. It is a Dravidian party founded by the former leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Vijayakant (Captain) at Madurai on 14 September 2005. The party was led by its founder until 14 December 2023 from its date of founding. From 14 December 2023, the DMDK is led by Vijayakant's wife Premalatha Vijayakanth as general secretary of the party. The party served as the main opposition party in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from 27 May 2011 to 21 February 2016. The headquarters of the party is called Captain Aalayam, which is located at Jawaharlal Nehru Salai, Koyambedu, Chennai.

History[edit | edit source]

Vijayakant era (2005–23)[edit | edit source]

Dr. Vijayakant
Founder of the party

The party was founded on 14 September 2005, as Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) by the former leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Vijayakant, a veteran Tamil film star and popular politician. He assumed the responsibility of the founder-president of the party. Ramu Vasanthan, who was the state president of the fans' forum, took charge as the general secretary of the party. On 17 July 2009, he died of a cardiac arrest. In 2014, the party's founder-president, Vijayakant, took over the position that had previously been vacant.

In the 2006 assembly election, the party contested all 234 seats without an alliance and bagged only one seat with 8.38% of the vote, that of its founder-president Vijayakant from Vriddhachalam constituency, who served as a member of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly. Other candidates of this party who contested in other constituencies in this election failed.

In the 2009 general election, it contested 40 seats—39 in Tamil Nadu and one in Puducherry—without an alliance and lost in all the constituencies with 0.75% of the vote.[2]

Following widespread corruption, a price rise, a power cut, and allegations of nepotism against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam government, in the 2011 assembly election, the party, in alliance with parties like the left and former chief minister of Tamil Nadu J. Jayalalithaa's All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK),[3] swept the polls, winning 202 seats, with the DMDK winning 29 out of 40 which it contested, and got the opposition status in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly by making it a second largest party in the legislative assembly next only to its ally AIADMK pushing DMK to third position and Vijayakanth recognized as the leader of the opposition in the assembly. The large victory also earned recognition and a permanent election symbol Nagara from the Election Commission of India.[4] Vijayakanth stepped down as leader of the opposition on 21 February 2016, after eight DMDK party MLAs resigned.[5]

The party's performance began to deteriorate after the 2014 general election; it fought the Lok Sabha election in an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).[6] Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Pattali Makkal Katchi, and Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi and Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi's Social Democratic Alliance are the other allies of the National Democratic Alliance in Tamil Nadu. In the NDA alliance, the party had the highest number of seats, which were 14 in number. Despite the big hype, the party lost all 14 seats to AIADMK candidates. But it was the first time in 52 years that the DMK alliance was pushed to third place by the number of seats, and this election gave confidence to most parties that the future of Tamil Nadu lies in a coalition government.

The DMDK decided to run alongside the People's Welfare Front (PWA) in the 2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election, as part of the "Captain Vijayakanth Alliance,"[7] which included the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Communist Party of India, Vaiko's Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and Thol. Thirumavalavan's Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi. The DMDK performed poorly in the election, not winning even a single constituency and losing deposits in the majority of its seats. It also witnessed a vote swing of -5.49% from the 2011 assembly elections.

In the 2019 general elections, after several rounds of talks with different political parties, The move comes after the DMDK’s attempts to make an alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which has already entered into a pre-poll alliance with the Congress and several others, failed. DMDK contested with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu for the 17th Lok Sabha polls, along with All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Pattali Makkal Katchi, Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar), and some unrecognized parties. Vijayakanth wants to prove his vote bank strength in this election, but the party was humiliated and lost all four that it contested out of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in the state. The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), a DMK-led alliance consisting of all the major opposition parties in the state, swept the election by winning 38 seats.

In the 2021 assembly election, the DMDK, which had the support of the Amma Makkal Munnettra Kazagam, Social Democratic Party of India, and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen, lost 60 seats contested and saw a vote percentage swing of -1.96% compared to previous assembly elections. After the election, the DMK emerged as the ruling party, and the AIADMK emerged as the main party of the opposition in the assembly.

On 26 December 2023, Vijayakanth was admitted to MIOT International Hospital, Chennai, due to pneumonia. After a prolonged illness, he died after testing positive for COVID-19 on 28 December 2023.

Premallatha Vijayakant era (2023–present)[edit | edit source]

On 14 December 2023, the former leader of the opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Vijayakant, announced and appointed Premallatha Vijayakant as the general secretary of the party in the presence of the party's deputy secretaries at the General Council Meeting held in Chennai.[8] Since Vijayakant's demise, the party is being completely led by Premallatha as the general secretary of the party.

In the 2024 general election, the DMDK joined the AIADMK-led Alliance in Tamil Nadu for the 18th Lok Sabha polls, along with Puthiya Tamilagam (PT) and the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI). The DMDK was contested in five constituencies, including Virudhunagar, which was contested by V. Vijaya Prabhakaran, the party's founder Vijayakant and the general secretary Premallatha Vijayakant's son. The party lost in all the constituencies it contested, and the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance swept the election in Tamil Nadu.[9]

The Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) has allied with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

DMDK leader Premallatha Vijayakant confirmed the decision after meeting Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, saying it fulfilled late founder Vijayakant’s wish.[10][11][12]

Electoral performance[edit | edit source]

Indian general elections[edit | edit source]

Lok Sabha Elections
Year Lok Sabha Party leader Seats contested Seats won Change in seats Percentage of votes Vote swing Popular vote Outcome
2009 15th Vijayakant 40 Template:Composition bar compact Steady 0.75% Steady 3,126,117 Lost
2014 16th 14 Template:Composition bar compact Steady 0.38% Decrease 0.37% 2,078,843
2019 17th 4 Template:Composition bar compact Steady 0.15% Decrease 0.23% 929,590
2024 18th Premallatha Vijayakant 5 Template:Composition bar compact Steady 0.17% Increase 0.02% 1,128,616

State legislative assembly elections[edit | edit source]

File:TamilNadu Logo.svg Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly Elections[13]
Year Assembly Party leader Seats contested Seats won Change in seats Percentage of votes Vote swing Popular vote Outcome
2006 13th Vijayakant 234 Template:Composition bar compact Increase 1 8.38% Steady 2,764,223 Others
2011 14th 41 Template:Composition bar compact Increase 28 7.88% Decrease 0.50% 2,903,828 Opposition
2016 15th 104 Template:Composition bar compact Decrease 29 2.39% Decrease 5.49% 1,034,384 Lost
2021 16th 60 Template:Composition bar compact Steady 0.43% Decrease 1.96% 200,157
2026 17th Premallatha Vijayakant colspan=7
TBA
Puducherry Legislative Assembly Elections[14]
Year Assembly Party leader Seats contested Seats won Change in seats Percentage of votes Vote swing Popular vote Outcome
2006 12th Vijayakant 24 Template:Composition bar compact Steady 2.73% Steady 15,405 Lost
2011 13th 1 Template:Composition bar compact Steady 0.85% Decrease 1.88% 5,966
2016 14th 6 Template:Composition bar compact Steady 0.11% Decrease 0.74% 850
2021 15th 26 Template:Composition bar compact Steady 0.30% Increase 0.19% 2,524
2026 16th Premallatha Vijayakant colspan=7
TBA
National Capital Territory of Delhi Legislative Assembly Elections[15]
Year Assembly Party leader Seats contested Seats won Change in seats Percentage of votes Vote swing Popular vote Outcome
2013 5th Vijayakant 11 Template:Composition bar compact Steady 0.03% Steady 2,285 Lost

Current office bearers and prominent members[edit | edit source]

Member Position in government Party position
Premallatha Vijayakant Steady General Secretary
V. Elangovan Steady Presidium Chairman
L. K. Sudhish Steady Treasurer
Alagaapuram R. Mohanraj Propaganda Secretary
B. Parthasarathy Deputy General Secretary
Selva Anburaj Steady Captain Manram Secretary
V. Vijayaprabhakaran Steady Youth Wing Secretary
Malathi Vinoth Steady Women's Wing Secretary
S. Senthilkumar Information Technology Wing Secretary
M. R. Panneerselvam Steady Advocates Wing Secretary
A. M. Shanmuga Sundaram Steady Students' Wing Secretary
K. Shanmugavel Steady Trade Wing Secretary
V. Meenakshisundaram Steady Weaver's Wing Secretary

List of party leaders[edit | edit source]

Presidents[edit | edit source]

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term in office
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 Vijayakant
(1952–2023) 		14 September 2005 28 December 2023 18 years, 105 days

General Secretaries[edit | edit source]

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term in office
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 S. Ramu Vasanthan
(1955–2009) 		14 September 2005 17 July 2009 3 years, 306 days
2 Vijayakant
(1952–2023) 		1 June 2014 14 December 2023 9 years, 196 days
3 Premallatha Vijayakant
(b. 1969) 		14 December 2023 Incumbent 2 years, 244 days

Legislative leaders[edit | edit source]

List of leaders of the opposition[edit | edit source]

Leaders of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly[edit | edit source]

Further information: Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term in office Assembly
(Election) 		Elected constituency
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 Vijayakant
(1952–2023) 		27 May 2011 21 February 2016 4 years, 270 days 14th
(2011) 		Rishivandiyam

List of deputy leaders of the opposition[edit | edit source]

Deputy Leaders of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly[edit | edit source]

No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death) 		Term in office Assembly
(Election) 		Elected constituency Leader of the Opposition
Assumed office Left office Time in office
1 Panruti S. Ramachandran
(b. 1937) 		27 May 2011 10 December 2013 2 years, 197 days 14th
(2011) 		Alandur Vijayakant
2 Alagaapuram R. Mohanraj
(b. 1954) 		31 January 2014 21 February 2016 2 years, 21 days Salem North

See also[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "List of Political Parties and Election Symbols main Notification Dated 18.01.2013" (PDF). India: Election Commission of India. 2013. Retrieved 9 May 2013.
  2. ↑ "DMDK improves poll showing". The times of India Chennai edition. 18 May 2009. p. 3.
  3. ↑ "Vijayakant's party to join hands with AIADMK to 'oust DMK'". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 25 February 2011. Archived from the original on 27 February 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2010.
  4. ↑ "தே.மு.தி.க.,வுக்கு தேர்தல் கமிஷன் அங்கீகாரம்: சின்னத்தை இழக்கிறது பா.ம.க." Dinamalar. 18 May 2011. Archived from the original on 20 May 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2011.
  5. ↑ "Vijaykant loses Opposition leader post; after 8 rebel MLAs resign". Register India. India. Retrieved 21 February 2016.[permanent dead link]
  6. ↑ "Confirmed: DMDK-BJP form alliance in Tamil Nadu for LS polls". www.oneindia.com. 26 February 2014.
  7. ↑ "TN polls: Joining the Third Front, Captain Vijayakanth worries DMK and AIADMK". 23 March 2016.
  8. ↑ "Premalatha Vijayakant elected as DMDK general secretary". The Hindu. 28 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  9. ↑ "Tamil Nadu election results 2024: DMK alliance sweeps Cuddalore, Villupuram, and Kallakurichi". The Hindu. 4 June 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  10. ↑ "DMDK joins DMK alliance ahead of Tamil Nadu polls". Times of India. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  11. ↑ "Tamil Nadu assembly election: DMDK joins DMK bloc, 'will win over 200 seats', says Premalatha Vijayakanth". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  12. ↑ "DMDK joins DMK alliance ahead of 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly polls". The News Minute. Retrieved 14 February 2026.
  13. ↑ "Tamil Nadu Assembly Election Results". Election Commission of India. September 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  14. ↑ "Puducherry Assembly Election Results". Election Commission of India. 3 June 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2022.
  15. ↑ "Delhi Assembly Election Results". Election Commission of India. 27 May 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2022.

External links[edit | edit source]

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