With the principal opposition party in Tamil Nadu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), on the cusp of a revamp, several of its powerful regional satraps, including former Ministers, are set to make an exit from the organisational post of district secretaries.

The exercise, which is being undertaken in the wake of the party’s defeat in the recent Assembly election, will most likely see new faces in 50% of its district secretary posts.

The party’s high-level executive committee approved the new rules prescribed by the revamp committee headed by former Minister Thangam Thennarasu.

The party president and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had on Saturday informed party office-bearers of the proposed changes.

As per the recommendations, a district secretary can hold office for a maximum of three terms. The age limit for holding the post is 70.

Party sources said as many as 22 of the existing 77 district secretaries were ineligible to continue in the posts or contest the elections. As the revamp committee has recommended increasing the number of district units to 110, 33 additional units will be created, which will also see new faces assuming office as district secretaries. In all, the changes are expected to bring 55 new faces to the post of district secretary.

The age limit and the three-term restriction will eliminate several important party faces, including former Ministers K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, Anitha Radhakrishnan, P. Moorthy, S. Muthusamy, T.M. Anbarasan, M.R.K. Panneerselvam, K.R. Periyakaruppan, S. Regupathy, former Speaker R. Avudaiappan, Theni Ramakrishnan, S.R. Sivalingam of Salem, Gingee Masthan, R. Gandhi, Sundar of Kancheepuram, former Kumbakonam MLA Sakkottai Anbazhagan, and Tiruvarur MLA Poondi S. Kalaivanan, from the race for district secretaries.

Mr. Stalin, while presiding over the high-level executive committee meeting on Saturday, said that although there were several reasons for the party’s defeat in the Assembly election, the performance of its functionaries was one of them. The new rules adopted by the high-level executive committee are aimed at infusing new blood into the organisation and giving more opportunities to youth and women.

The party is likely to announce the membership drive during the annual Mupperum Vizha in September. This will be followed by elections at various levels, including those to the post of district secretaries. The process will culminate in the appointment of state-level office-bearers.