Khushboo quits; DMK restructures district units

Zee Media Bureau/Hemant Abhishek
Chennai: Tamil actress-turned politician Khushboo Sundar on Monday quit the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK), saying that the party leadership had ignored her `hard work`.
DMK in the meanwhile restructured its district-level units, almost doubling it to 65, in a bid to revitalise the party ahead of the assembly elections in 2016 in tune with the recommendations of a six-member committee.
In her resignation letter addressed to DMK president M Karunanidhi - copies of which were distributed to the media and also on the social media - Khushbu said she had joined the DMK to serve the Tamil people.
She said that since the day she joined DMK, she was fulfilling the duties given to her by the party.
Khushboo said she decided to quit "since my commitment and service would continue to remain one way in the party" and the path taken by her was giving her mental tension. She was quoted by reports as saying that she had given her 100% for the party, but felt she didn`t get recognition in return.
Khushboo tweeted, " At times hard decisions have to be taken at the right time with a smile..I hve done just tat..no point in pondering over something tat hurts (sic)."

At times hard decisions have to be taken at the right time with a smile..I hve done just tat..no point in pondering over something tat hurts

— khushbusundar (@khushsundar) June 16, 2014

She laid to rest any speculation of her joining any of DMK`s rivals, and said, "I am not jumping into any other party..so stop assumptions n hold back ur horses friends.. need some time alone with family..(sic)"

As speculated, there was no bad blood between her and the DMK high-command, she clarified and said that she held DMK president M Karunanidhi in highest regards.

Will always hve my highest regards 4 @kalaignar89 all thru my life..he is not just leader but a father I never had..nothing can tke tat away— khushbusundar (@khushsundar) June 16, 2014

Khushboo is known for films like "Chinna Thambi", "Vetri Vizha" and "Nattamai".
Meanwhile, the DMK Monday announced an internal restructuring by increasing the number of district units, party general secretary K Anbazhagan said.
In a statement issued here, Anbazhagan said the party decided to increase the number of district units to 65.
The party earlier this month appointed a group to recommend internal restructuring to make the organisational structure strong following its debacle in the general elections.
DMK restructures district units, party polls soon
DMK today restructured its district-level units on the recommendation of the committee of senior party leaders, DMK general secretary K Anbazhagan.
The union and town level units which would come under the jurisdiction of newly-formed district units would be announced shortly, he said.
"Thereafter, organisational polls for district, union and town-level party units will be held," he said.
DMK has effected significant changes in its district units by bringing in decentralisation by way of adding up more district units.
For instance, in Chennai the party had two district units south and north. Now it has been expanded to four (north, south, east and west). Similarly, Madurai and Coimbatore will have four party districts now.
The DMK set up a six-member team of senior party leaders on June 5 to recommend measures to restructure its district units ahead of the assembly elections in 2016.
The panel was named two days after DMK chief Karunanidhi`s observation on his birthday on June 3 that decisions on certain issues will make the party a "sharpened sword".
It comprised S Thiruvengadam, T S Kalyanasundaram, R Rajamanickam, former minister Thangam Thennarasu, MLA, advocate K S Radhakrishnan and S L T Sachidanandam.
The panel has recommended more decentralisation of powers for better party work at the grassroots level.
DMK has been contemplating and acting on several plans to enhance the confidence of party cadres, demoralised in the backdrop of its rout in the recent Lok Sabha polls in which it drew a blank.
Ruling AIADMK led by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in a splendid show won 37 of the 39 seats, leaving one seat each to BJP and its ally PMK.
(With PTI Inputs)