DMK too trims list of media spokespersons

A 23-member revised list, which was released by the party high command on Saturday, was understood to have been prepared personally by DMK president MK Stalin, who along with treasurer Duraimurugan got into a huddle at Anna Arivalayam here recently to show the place to some party functionaries who were speaking beyond the party line of late.

DMK was not the first to censure party spokespersons opining beyond the party line. The ruling AIADMK and its breakaway faction AMMK led by TTV Dinakaran had also been choosy in sending party representatives to air its views. DMK’s list includes prominent faces like Saidapet MLA M Subramanian, poet Tamilachi Thangapandian, Salma, writer Manushyaputhiran, MLA PTR Thiyagarajan and advocate Kannadasan.

DMK’s decision may have been influenced by a few spokespersons making provocative statements about alliance and friendly parties. “DMK had revolutionised political campaign and used theatre and folklore to reach the people…. TV talk shows and media interactions happen daily, and that too on daily news developments. It reaches the households daily. We must take them very seriously and hence the party has put so much effort to select people who represent it on media,” Paranthaman told DT Next.