The DMK’s aggressive push to reclaim the Kongu belt ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections is facing murmurs of unease within party ranks, with some functionaries questioning the heavy dependence on western zone in-charge Senthil Balaji and his Karur-based network.
The concern stems from comparisons with the recent local body elections, where the DMK performed strongly in the region. Party insiders note that the earlier success came in a different political context, when the AIADMK and BJP contested separately and the ruling party benefited from the usual incumbency advantage. With the opposition expected to mount a more coordinated challenge in the Assembly polls, some workers believe the electoral terrain could be tougher this time.
The unease comes even as Balaji’s team — popularly referred to by cadres as the “Karur company” — has taken charge of intensive booth-level data work across parts of Coimbatore and the western belt. While the exercise is aimed at tightening the party’s ground machinery, a section of local cadres is privately questioning whether the same model can be scaled across the wider region.
Some functionaries point out that the Karur team has so far handled concentrated operations only in a handful of constituencies and warn that stretching the same apparatus across several dozen seats could pose logistical challenges. There is also quiet discussion within party circles about the additional pressure on Balaji, who is expected to face the electorate himself in the upcoming polls.
Supporters of the strategy, however, insist the micro-level voter mapping and structured booth management will give the DMK a decisive organisational edge in the Kongu region.
With key conferences lined up in Coimbatore and election preparations gathering pace, the DMK leadership is said to be closely watching both the ground mobilisation and the emerging disquiet within the ranks. Whether the western gamble pays off will ultimately be tested at the ballot box.
Source: Vikatan
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
