DMK internal heat: Stalin's son-in-law's consultancy firm PEN blamed for poll defeat in party reviews

The electoral setback in the recently concluded Assembly elections has triggered visible unrest within the DMK, with criticism now reaching the inner circle of party president M.K. Stalin. Several party functionaries have reportedly expressed dissatisfaction over the role played by his son-in-law Sabarisan Vedamurthy and his political consultancy firm Populus Empowerment Network (PEN) in the party's defeat.

During internal review meetings, second-rung leaders are said to have pointed fingers at PEN, which handled key aspects of the party's election campaign, including strategy and candidate selection. Critics within the party argue that decisions taken by the firm weakened the DMK's grassroots connect and alienated local cadres.

Responding to the criticism, Sabarisan issued a statement acknowledging that scrutiny is integral to democracy and cautioned against attributing the electoral outcome to a single factor.