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NDTV
9 hours ago
- Politics
- NDTV
MK Stalin Launches Poll Campaign, Says AIADMK "Fully Under" BJP's Control
Chennai: The temple town of Madurai, the political capital of Tamil Nadu, crackled with political energy as the Chief Minister and DMK President, M.K. Stalin, formally launched the party's campaign for the 2026 elections at the general council meet. Addressing a gathering of party leaders and cadre, Mr Stalin issued a clear call, demanding immediate grassroots mobilisation. "Enrol at least 30% of voters as DMK members within the next two months," he instructed booth committees, setting an ambitious target to solidify the party's base. Mr Stalin framed the upcoming battle as a defence of Tamil Nadu's identity and progress against the key opposition party, AIADMK, that revived ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). He launched a fierce attack on the rival AIADMK, declaring it "fully under BJP's control," accusing its leader, Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), of seeking to bring the entire state under Delhi's saffron influence. Amit Shah frequently visits Tamil Nadu," Mr Stalin noted pointedly, delivering his signature rebuke: "As I said earlier, no Shah can rule Tamil Nadu. It is always out of control for Delhi." Mr Stalin alleged that if the BJP-AIADMK alliance wins, then communal clashes, regressive ideologies hindering education and industry, and a relentless assault on Tamil culture through Hindi imposition will occur. "They would drown us with regressive Tamil Nadu's identity," he alleged, urging cadre to proactively take this message to the people, countering rival narratives on social media and opinion polls. "Our truth should reach before their lies," he asserted, emphasising the need to stay ahead of the political narrative. Mr Stalin highlighted the strength of the DMK-led alliance, calling allies "our strength for successive victories." He asked his party cadre to adopt a "give and take" approach, mirroring his politeness and consideration in dealing with alliance partners. The campaign's core message, he stated, must be the DMK's "Everything for Everyone" policy, showcasing their governance which he claimed rescued Tamil Nadu from the "depths" of AIADMK rule, achieving top growth rankings despite alleged economic crippling by the Centre, gubernatorial interference to create obstacles, and erosion of state rights. The DMK General Council echoed his stance, passing resolutions demanding the Centre abandon population-based delimitation (fearing reduced TN representation), withdraw the Waqf Amendment Act, release withheld funds, cease alleged misuse of investigative agencies, and halt Hindi imposition. They slammed the "divisive Hindutva politics" and centralisation of power while demanding an expedited caste-based census. The battle lines for 2026 were decisively drawn. Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswamy today denied these allegations. He said, "It is DMK that has betrayed Tamil Nadu. They were in power in Delhi for 16 years, but they did nothing about bringing education under the state list, but when out of power, they raise this". BJP state Chief Nainar Nagendran said, "Even Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman has explained how the state has received more funds when compared to the UPA regime. How long would you enact this drama?", he added. The DMK has countered the argument in the past, saying the right way to compare would be against the then GDP and present GDP to find out how much the state gets.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Tamil Nadu CM Stalin alleges AIADMK has gone under BJP's control
Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday alleged the AIADMK has gone fully under the control of the BJP and leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami is attempting to bring the entire state of Tamil Nadu under the Saffron party's it will not happen and "no (Amit) Shah can rule Tamil Nadu," Stalin, the DMK president said in his address to the party's general council meeting. Stalin said the people need to be told on what may happen if the BJP-alliance assumed power in the state. They would stoke religion and caste-based communal violence and divide people in all manner. "People need to be told that they will not allow children to get educated, there will be no industrial growth, they will destroy Tamil Nadu's unique characteristics by imposing Hindi and by way of cultural imposition." Without mentioning actor-politician Vijay, the DMK chief said they too must be given a fitting reply. AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami wished a split in the DMK-led alliance and stories like snapping of ties between AIADMK and BJP were spun ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. However, the DMK-led alliance did not break up. As a result, Palaniswami has surrendered again to the BJP by visiting Amit Shah in March 2025 in Delhi. "When the AIADMK-BJP alliance was announced by Amit Shah, Palaniswami did not even utter a those who lead the alliance in the state usually announce the alliance. However, here, Amit Shah announced it." This showed that the AIADMK has fully gone under the control of the BJP. Next, Palaniswami is desperate to to take entire Tamil Nadu to BJP's control. Live Events "That is why Amit Shah visits Tamil Nadu often. I have already made it clear. No Shah can rule Tamil Nadu." Late party patriarch M Karunanidhi and former mayor and party leader Muthu slogged for the party's growth in Madurai. Similarly, the chief minister said he too had worked for the party by hoisting party flags when Pon Muthuramalingam was the secretary of the composite Madurai district. The CM said: "Madurai is a land of sacrifice, where many people worked hard for the party. It is a matter of pride that the meet is happening in such a place. Ever since the party was founded (1949), general council meetings have been held six times in Madurai and this is the seventh time. This is the general council which is going to pave the way for the party to form the government for the seventh time." He said the general council meeting is to devise a strategy for the success of the party in the 2026 Assembly election. The headlines in newspapers by the same time next year (June, 2026) should say that the DMK formed the government for the seventh time. Tamil Nadu Assembly election is due by April-May 2026. Humility is the key leadership quality and he will never be arrogant, Stalin said, adding his faith in party workers gave him the confidence of a big win for the party in polls next year. Praising committed, resolute party workers, he said that only because of them the DMK, founded in 1949 is marching towards its centenary. "The sun is permanent. Similarly, the DMK is permanent," he said and appealed to party workers to work to make the party-led regime a permanent feature. "We can create it. You can do that. We can do that." Further, the CM said the DMK never had the "media comfort." Irrespective of whether the DMK is the ruling or opposition party, it faced increased criticism. "However, the wave of support for DMK is more that the wave of opposition. Some are trying to hide it; divert it." Despite several obstacles, which includes those through the office of the Governor and economic and political challenges posed by the BJP-led Union government, the DMK regime has elevated Tamil Nadu and it tops Indian states in terms of growth. The 2026 Assembly election is round the corner and the party has to gear up to overcome challenges from political rivals like defamatory content and lies under the guise of opinion polls. "If they try to set a narrative, we have to be one step ahead of them. Our truths should reach the people well before their lies." One of the reasons for the party's victory is its robust alliance, he said and batted for dialogue and mutual respect among electoral partners for continuation of the alliance's victory journey. Stalin underscored unity in party at all levels and appointment of youngsters in the two new party wings that were announced. The Dravidian party chief urged party functionaries to explain the government initiatives, schemes and welfare projects in their respective areas and make a comparison as regards the situation during the previous regime. Stalin emphasised on the new membership enrolment initiative and said he would himself monitor the exercise. Though the party is robust in terms of organisational prowess, strong leadership and a deep commitment to ideology, that alone will not be sufficient for electoral victory. "Booth level micro management is very important." Stalin said he would meet party functionaries constituency-wise from the first week of June and assured "one to one" conversations at that time. The party adopted resolutions including celebrating late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi's birth anniversary (June 3) as Classical language day. The party resolved to "drive away the AIADMK and BJP," and right away begin field work in order to retain power in the state following the 2026 Assembly polls.
United News of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Not even Amit Shah, no Shah can rule here, TN always out of Delhi control : Stalin
Chennai, June 1 (UNI) Upping his ante against the BJP-led Government at the Centre, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin on Sunday reiterated his assertion that not even Amit Shah (Union Home Minister), no Shah can rule here and Tamil Nadu is always out of Delhi's control. In his marathon address at the DMK General Council meeting in Madurai, he said the same time next year, the ruling DMK has retained power and formed the government for the seventh time, should be the headlines. Taking a dig at the AIADMK, he said no 'comical alliance' were not able able to defeat the DMK over the past elections. And they could never win hereafter. It is was not a routine GC has been convened to devise the strategy to install DMK in power for a record seventh time. "The headlines next year during the same day must be the DMK formed the government for seventh time. The DMK-front has secured a historic victory and the Dravidian Model governance is continuing for a second successive term", he added. Exhorting the DMK cadres to work hard to ensure party's victory in the crucial 2026 Assembly polls by strengthening micro-management system at booth levels and taking the welfare measures of the DMK's Dravidian Model Governance to the people, Mr Stalin appealed to them to work in close coordination with the alliance parties. "Even if there are some differences, you should forget them and work in close then our Victory march will continue", he added. Stating that Leader of the Opposition and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami had dreamt of creating a wedge in the DMK-led front and floated several theories, Mr Stalin said by announcing severing of its ties with the BJP he had thought that the DMK alliance will break. But their acting and the idea did not fructify. That's why Mr Palaniswami went to Delhi, switched several cars and surrendered before Mr Amit Shah again,resulting in revival of ties. "When Mr Amit Shah announced the revival of alliance with AIADMK in Chennai, Mr Palaniswami remained a mute an he did not prostrate", Mr Stalin said, coming down heavily both on the BJP and the AIADMK. Pointing out that only the party which heads the Front (AIADMK IN TN) in a State will announce the alliance, the Chief Minister said on the contrary it was announced by Mr Amit Shah. "This shows that the AIADMK has come under the complete control of the BJP. The next step of Mr Palaniswami is to take the entire state of TN to the control of BJP. That's why Mr Amit Shah is making repeated visits to the State', he said. Strong reiterating his earlier comment, Mr Stalin said 'Even if any Shah comes, they cannot rule Tamil Nadu is always Delhi's out of control". He also told the DMK cadres to take this message to the people, inform them what will happen to the State if the AIADMK-BJP alliance formed the government in the State. They will create communal clashes, instigate caste tensions, divide the people in all forms, will not allow our students to pursue their education, will drown us with regressive policies, scuttle industrial growth, impose Hindi and destroy the TN's identity". In a veiled attack on actor-politician Vijay's TVK, Mr Stalin said some new people are coming to cheat the people by stating that they are the alternative. "We should give them a fitting reply (in the elections) to them also", he added. Directing the Party functionaries to intensify the membership enrollment drive for the elections during the next two months as decided in the form a Special resolution adopted at the GC meet earlier in the day, he said from the first week of this month he would be meeting the DMK functionaries constituency-wise at the Party headquarters 'Anna Arivalayam' for an one-to-one interaction, while stating that he would also be personally monitoring the membership enrollment drive. UNI GV
India Gazette
13 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
AIADMK fields IS Inbadurai, M Dhanapal for Rajya Sabha election
Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 1 (ANI): AIADMK on Sunday announced that IS Inbadurai and M Dhanapal will be its candidates for the Rajya Sabha election scheduled for June 19 this year. 'With the approval of AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami, we are announcing candidates for Rajya Sabha. IS Inbadurai, M Dhanapal will contest on behalf of AIADMK,' AIADMK Deputy General Secretary KP Munusamy told reporters. Munusamy also said that AIADMK will allocate one Rajya Sabha seat to its alliance partner DMDK in 2026 when the vacancy arises. Earlier this week, the DMK announced its candidates for the election and allocated one seat to Kamal Haasan, the founder of Makkal Needhi Maiyam. According to a DMK release, Salma, Advocate P Wilson, and SR Sivalingam are its candidates. In the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, each candidate requires a minimum of 34 votes to clinch a Rajya Sabha seat. The DMK-led INDIA bloc, with 158 MLAs (DMK: 133, Congress:17, VCK: 4, CPI: 2, CPM: 2), is poised to win four seats comfortably. Actor Kamal Haasan launched Makkal Needhi Miam at a public meeting in Madurai in 2018. Makkal Needhi Miam did not contest in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, and instead it campaigned for the DMK-led INDIA bloc in the State. In return, the DMK had promised a Rajya Sabha seat for the party. Makkal Needhi Miam had secured 2.62% of the votes in the 2021 State Assembly election. Meanwhile, Kamal Haasan has courted a political controversy with his alleged remarks claiming that 'Kannada has its roots in Tamil.' Haasan reiterated his faith in 'law and democracy' on Friday while responding to the ongoing controversy surrounding his purported remark on the Kannada language during the promotion of his movie 'Thug Life' in Chennai. Terming India as a 'democratic country,' the actor stated that he won't 'apologise' to anyone for his actions if he is 'not wrong'. Pro-Kannada organisations have demanded a public apology from him for allegedly hurting the sentiments of Kannada people. (ANI)
India Gazette
13 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
At its General Council meeting in Madurai, DMK attacks Centre for denying TN
Madurai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 1 (ANI): At its General Council meeting held on Sunday in Madurai, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) passed a resolution condemning the Union Government for denying Tamil Nadu its rightful financial allocations. During the meeting, which was held on a sprawling 90-acre site in Uthangudi, 27 important resolutions were passed. DMK functionaries read out the resolutions one by one. Among them was a resolution condemning the Union Government for denying Tamil Nadu its rightful financial allocations. The gathering saw the participation of over 10,000 party leaders, including Chief Minister MK Stalin and ministers, MPs, MLAs, and senior functionaries. The meeting holds political significance as it is the first time in 47 years that event was held in Madurai, solidifying the party's influence in the southern region. The key resolutions include ensuring the victory of the party in the 2026 Assembly elections and electing MK Stalin as Chief Minister, declaring June 3rd, the birth anniversary of Karunanidhi, as 'Classical Tamil Day,' and expressing gratitude to the Chief Minister for being a pioneer in improving the lives of women in the State. Another resolution emphasised the need to publicise the DMK government's achievements among the people. Earlier, the DMK had 23 internal wings, and two new wings have now been added, bringing the total to 25. The newly formed wings are the Differently Abled Wing and the Academics Wing. Meanwhile, on Sunday, in another political development in the state, AIADMK announced that IS Inbadurai and M Dhanapal will be its candidates for the Rajya Sabha election scheduled for June 19 this year. 'With the approval of AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami, we are announcing candidates for Rajya Sabha. IS Inbadurai, M Dhanapal will contest on behalf of AIADMK,' AIADMK Deputy General Secretary KP Munusamy told reporters. Munusamy also said that AIADMK will allocate one Rajya Sabha seat to its alliance partner DMDK in 2026 when the vacancy arises. Earlier this week, the DMK announced its candidates for the election and allocated one seat to Kamal Haasan, the founder of Makkal Needhi Maiyam. According to a DMK release, Salma, Advocate P Wilson, and SR Sivalingam are its candidates. In the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, each candidate requires a minimum of 34 votes to clinch a Rajya Sabha seat. The DMK-led INDIA bloc, with 158 MLAs (DMK: 133, Congress:17, VCK: 4, CPI: 2, CPM: 2), is poised to win four seats comfortably. (ANI)
