DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi was elected as the President of The Hindu Office and National Press Employee Union on Tuesday.
Her victory makes her the first woman president of the union. According to Puthiya Thalaimurai, Kanimozhi garnered 405 votes in all, defeating her rival Solomon by 103 votes.
Although Kanimozhi worked in the newspaper between 1993 and 1996, the elections are open to anyone and are not limited to staff.
The elections were held at The Hindu office on Tuesday between 8am and 5pm, with 735 eligible voters, reported PTI.
“The election gives Kanimozhi a lot of leverage now to talk about issues of the media, employee problems, labour issues. It’s the first time she’s become a trade union leader. The union is small but what it does is gives Kanimozhi the locus standi to raise several issues,” said a journalist at The Hindu.
Kanimozhi, however, follows in the footsteps of other DMK leaders.
Former Union minister and DMK leader NVN Somu was also a president of the Union, while former DMK MLA, NP Ramajayam had held the post of general secretary of the union.
Meanwhile, trade union leader M Kamalnathan was re-elected general secretary for the fourth consecutive time. Elections were also held for the post of two vice-presidents, one joint secretary, one treasurer and 13 executive committee members, reported The Hindu.