Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam
AbbreviationDMK
PresidentM. K. Stalin
General SecretaryT. R. Baalu
Parliamentary ChairpersonKanimozhi Karunanidhi
Lok Sabha LeaderT. R. Baalu
Rajya Sabha LeaderTiruchi Siva
TreasurerT. R. Baalu
FounderC. N. Annadurai
Founded17 September 1949 (1949-09-17)
Split fromDravidar Kazhagam
Preceded byJustice Party (1917–1944)
Dravidar Kazhagam
(1944–1949)
HeadquartersAnna Arivalayam,
367–369, Anna Salai, Teynampet, Chennai - 600018, Tamil Nadu, India
Student wingMaanavar Ani
Youth wingIlaignar Ani
Women's wingMagalir Ani
Labour wingLabour Progressive Federation (LPF)
Ideology
Political positionLeft-wing
Colours Black
Red
ECI StatusState Party
Alliance
Seats in Lok Sabha
22 / 543
Seats in Rajya Sabha
10 / 245
Seats in Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly
134 / 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
Website
www.dmk.in

The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (Tamil pronunciation: [t̪iɾaːʋiɖɐ munːeːtrɐk kɐɻɐɡɐm]; transl.Dravidian Progressive Federation; abbr. DMK) is an Indian political party based in the state of Tamil Nadu, where it is currently the ruling party, and the union territory of Puducherry, where it is currently the main opposition.

The DMK was founded on 17 September 1949 by C. N. Annadurai (Anna) as a breakaway faction from the Dravidar Kazhagam headed by Periyar. DMK was headed by Annadurai as the general secretary from 1949 until his death on 4 February 1969. He also served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu from 1967 to 1969. Under Annadurai, in 1967, DMK became the first party, other than the Indian National Congress, to win the state-level elections with a clear majority on its own in any state in India. M. Karunanidhi (Kalaignar) followed Annadurai as the first president of the party from 1969 until his death on 7 August 2018. He also served as the Chief Minister for five non-consecutive terms, in two of which he was dismissed by the Union government. After Karunanidhi's death, his son and former deputy, M. K. Stalin, succeeded as the party president and as a Chief minister of Tamil Nadu state from May 2021.

DMK is the fifth-largest party in the Lok Sabha. It currently holds 126 seats in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, and the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance holds 159 out of 234.