CHENNAI: Former chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday announced the constitution of a 38-member committee to travel across all 234 constituencies and conduct a field-level assessment of the reason for DMK’s electoral debacle in the recently concluded assembly election. He directed committee members to document criticisms levelled against him by party functionaries.Stalin held a meeting with members of the committee in which he outlined the framework for the review exercise and said the findings would form the basis for organisational reforms and corrective measures within the party. “You are all being sent as representatives of the headquarters and on my behalf. You are going there as my ears. Your only duty is to come back and tell me exactly what the party cadre say, without personal likes or dislikes,” Stalin said. He instructed members not to attempt to shield or target anybody during the exercise and said all interactions with cadre should be conducted only in teams of two. Stalin also asked them to allow party workers to openly express their grievances and explain the reasons for the electoral setback. “Even if they criticise me as the leader, let them do so. Include those criticisms in your report,” he said. Stalin stressed that the leadership wanted to understand the genuine mood within the organisation rather than receive filtered feedback from functionaries. “What is the real feeling among the functionaries? What are they truly thinking? That alone is important to me,” he said. Drawing a comparison with medical diagnosis, Stalin said the party could undertake reforms only if the problems were identified honestly. “People say one should never lie to a doctor. I am now in that position. Do not hide anything from me. Only if the illness is clearly identified can the right medicine be given. Similarly, only if the problems within the party are rectified, the party will stay rejuvenated for the next 100 years,” he said. He directed committee members not to share information gathered during the exercise with anybody else, particularly those concerned, warning that doing so would defeat the purpose of the review. Stalin said the report should be submitted by June 5 and action on it will be completed before June-end.
