AIADMK to conduct conclaves to rev up support of youth, women

CHENNAI: With major political parties stepping up efforts to attract young voters ahead of the Assembly elections, the principal opposition party, the AIADMK, has moved to revive its Youth and Young Women's Wing by organising regional conferences.

With the party’s influence perceived to have declined in southern Tamil Nadu in recent years, it has resolved to organise a regional conference of its Youth and Young Women's Wing to regain organisational strength. According to party sources, the conference is planned to be held in January.

The renewed focus on young voters comes amid the emergence of actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), which has been drawing a significant number of youth to its political meetings.

Senior journalist Priyan said the AIADMK’s youth and women wings were strong during the tenure of Jayalalithaa, but their activities have weakened over time. “To establish itself as a credible alternative to the DMK, the AIADMK should have begun strengthening its youth wing much earlier, especially when the DMK inducted Udhayanidhi Stalin as its Youth Wing secretary. That would have helped the AIADMK retain its youth presence on the ground,” he said.

While the DMK leadership’s consistent emphasis on its Youth Wing has helped the party retain the confidence of young cadre, the AIADMK’s Youth and Young Women Wing has faced criticism for the lack of large-scale mobilisation and visible activity.

Speaking to DT Next, AIADMK Youth Wing secretary Paramasivam said the party had enrolled 17 lakh young members in the 18 to 25 age group. He added that the wing had launched the ‘Voice of Youth’ app to gather feedback from young voters. “The AIADMK believes in results on the ground rather than showmanship. The youth wing has been diligently focusing on its responsibilities,” he said.