Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)
திராவிட முன்னேற்றக் கழகம்
One of Tamil Nadu's two major Dravidian parties, founded by Annadurai and led for decades by M. Karunanidhi.
About
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) was founded on 17 September 1949 by C. N. Annadurai after he broke away from Periyar E. V. Ramasamy's Dravidar Kazhagam. The party carried the Self-Respect Movement's ideas of social justice, rationalism and Tamil identity into electoral politics.
The DMK first came to power in 1967, ending Congress rule in the state — the first time a regional party formed a majority government in any Indian state. After Annadurai's death in 1969, M. Karunanidhi led the party for nearly five decades and served as Chief Minister five times.
M. K. Stalin became party president in 2018 and Chief Minister in 2021. The DMK is known for its positions on state autonomy, opposition to Hindi imposition, reservation and welfare schemes, and leads the Secular Progressive Alliance in Tamil Nadu.
Key Milestones
- 1949
Founded by C. N. Annadurai
- 1967
First DMK government; Annadurai becomes Chief Minister
- 1969
M. Karunanidhi becomes Chief Minister
- 2018
M. K. Stalin elected party president
- 2021
M. K. Stalin sworn in as Chief Minister
- 2026
Wins 59 seats (24.19% votes); M. K. Stalin loses Kolathur and resigns as Chief Minister (5 May)
- 2026
Becomes the main opposition party in the 17th Assembly
TVK
AIADMK
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CPI(M)
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MDMK