In a landmark move, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has appointed V. Maitreyan as the deputy president of its Academicians’ Wing, making him the first Brahmin to hold an organisational post in the party. Maitreyan, a three-time Rajya Sabha MP and oncologist by training, joined the DMK in August 2025 after leaving the AIADMK.

The appointment is being seen as a signal that the DMK, traditionally rooted in anti-Brahmin rhetoric, is reaching out to more socially diverse communities. His elevation reflects not only a personal political turnaround but also a broader recalibration in the DMK’s organisational strategy. Critics and political observers alike suggest this could be part of a deliberate effort to reshape the party’s caste representation and showcase a more inclusive political image.