logo
Opposition formed opportunistic alliance out of frustration of repeated failures: DMK president Stalin

Opposition formed opportunistic alliance out of frustration of repeated failures: DMK president Stalin

The Hindu06-05-2025

Those who are forming an opportunistic alliance by betraying Tamil Nadu, along with their covert partners, are frustrated by repeated failures and have been wondering whether the DMK could be defeated in the 2026 Assembly elections. But people of Tamil Nadu will prove how flawed their political calculations are, said DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday (May 6, 2025).
In a letter to DMK party cadre, Mr. Stalin said 'As of May 7, our Dravida model government completes four years and is stepping into its fifth year. People of Tamil Nadu trusted us and we have been delivering good-governance and people-centric schemes, driven by the goal of 'everything for everyone.' In the last four years, Tamil Nadu has become a leading State. Those who are ideologically opposed to us, ruling other States, have also begun to follow our initiatives. The people's sentiment shows that this good governance will continue for another five years.'
The DMK ruled the State on six occasions and ensured socio-economic progress by implementing schemes that benefited every household and building a modern Tamil Nadu. It will once again be the DMK that will secure a grand victory in the 2026 Assembly elections and form the government for the seventh time, Mr. Stalin said.
'To uphold the trust people have placed in us, we must work tirelessly on the ground. Since our political opponents were unable to find fault in our governance, they resort to spreading slander. They misuse institutions to launch politically motivated attacks. But we are not a submissive party to be scared by such tactics. The DMK will continue to fight for Tamil Nadu's rights. Most of the 505 promises that we made in our 2021 election manifesto have been fulfilled. Further, many successful schemes not mentioned in the manifesto have also been implemented to benefit people. I neither deny nor forget that there are few other poll promises yet to be fulfilled. I remain committed to fulfilling them,' Mr. Stalin said.
'For the next one year, our focus should be on election-related work. The party headquarters has developed action plans and communicated them to the district secretaries. The party's activities on ground should align with the action plan. Elaborate election strategies will be discussed during the party's general council meeting scheduled to be held in Madurai on June 1,' he said.
He also urged the booth agents and party cadres to actively engage on social media platforms and promptly take forward messages from party headquarters to the people.
Party speakers addressing public meetings across State should clearly and concisely present the achievements of four years of our Dravida model government and explain with statistics to people about the benefits of some of our flagship schemes such as Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam, free bus travel for women, Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme, Naan Mudhalvan, Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam, Pudhumai Penn and Tamil Pudhalvan, he added.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

MDMK drops resolution for more seats in 2026 election
MDMK drops resolution for more seats in 2026 election

Time of India

timean hour ago

  • Time of India

MDMK drops resolution for more seats in 2026 election

Chennai: A week after MDMK adopted a resolution at its general council to seek additional seats from DMK in the 2026 assembly election, the party's working committee which met here on Sunday dropped the resolution. The working committee, which met in the presence of general secretary Vaiko and headquarters secretary Durai Vaiko, instead reaffirmed its commitment to remain in the DMK led alliance to keep 'fascist forces' at bay. The shift in MDMK's electoral approach comes in the wake of a few party functionaries including K Muthurathinam, MDMK's candidate in Palladam assembly segment in 2021 poll, joining DMK. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai Addressing reporters after the working committee meeting, Vaiko defended the exclusion of the resolution saying that MDMK did not make any formal demand for more seats from DMK. "We never asked for double-digit seats from the DMK,'' he said. When asked whether the issue of seat-sharing was discussed at the working committee meeting, Vaiko said it was not brought up. He said Durai Vaiko's speech at the general council was misinterpreted as a demand for more seats. Durai Vaiko also sought to clarify his earlier statement made in Erode. "It was my personal opinion, not the party's official position. I merely said that if we contest in 12 seats, winning eight would qualify us for recognition. The final decision on seat-sharing will always lie with the party high command," he said. In the 2021 Assembly elections, MDMK contested six seats as part of the DMK alliance, all under the Rising Sun symbol of the DMK. The party won four out of six seats, but those MLAs were counted as DMK members in the assembly, as MDMK is not a recognized party by the Election Commission. Sources in MDMK said that dropping the resolution for more seats was a tactical retreat as the party wanted to tread cautiously.

In Tamil Nadu politics, too many players waiting in the wings
In Tamil Nadu politics, too many players waiting in the wings

The Hindu

time4 hours ago

  • The Hindu

In Tamil Nadu politics, too many players waiting in the wings

Though every election is important, the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu are especially crucial, as they are likely to determine the future of many political parties in the State, including of the AIADMK, which is one of the two major Dravidian forces. Bipolarity in Tamil Nadu politics has traditionally kept the AIADMK and its rival, the DMK, alive and relevant, regardless of electoral outcomes. However, the losing party in 2026 may struggle to stay afloat, since many others are waiting in the wings. The DMK, led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, has managed to hold its alliance together and maintain a relatively stable front since 2017. Its partners — the Left parties and the Congress — have little choice but to stick with the DMK because of ideological and strategic reasons. The presence of the BJP prevents them from switching sides or experimenting with other alliances. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), led by Thol. Thirumavalavan, remains in the DMK-led alliance not only because of its opposition to the BJP, but also because any alliance that includes the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) is unacceptable to it. Mr. Stalin has already started touring districts under the slogan 'Tamil Nadu under one front,' with the goal of enrolling 2 crore members. On the other hand, the AIADMK-led alliance remains in disarray. It is grappling with multiple issues, particularly of power-sharing after the elections. The BJP, driven by the single-minded agenda of breaking new ground in Tamil Nadu, often acts as if it leads the alliance and tries to dictate terms to the AIADMK. This has caused a lot of bitterness among the AIADMK rank and file. The PMK, a potential ally, is entangled in a family feud between its founder, S. Ramadoss, and his son Anbumani Ramadoss; this has created uncertainty about its political direction. No amount of persuasion has stopped Dr. Ramadoss from talking about internal disputes in public and projecting his son as his arch rival. Even if reconciliation occurs, the damage may be irreparable, as the war of words has already eroded unity in the second tier of leadership. As for the AIADMK, though former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami is under pressure to forge a strong alliance to take on the DMK, he remains indecisive about reconciling with the faction led by another former Chief Minister, O. Panneerselvam. In his calculations, V.K. Sasikala, the close aide of the late J. Jayalalithaa, and T.T.V. Dhinakaran, who leads his own party, the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, do not seem to count. Mr. Palaniswami overlooks the fact that these factions still retain some support among a particular community in Tamil Nadu, even if that support is difficult to quantify. Both the AIADMK and the BJP are hoping that actor-turned-politician Vijay's Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) will join them, although there have been no overtures from Mr. Vijay's side. Mr. Vijay aims to project himself as an alternative to the traditional political parties in Tamil Nadu. However, as of now, his party is no match to the DMK or the AIADMK in terms of organisational strength and financial clout. Mr. Vijay may garner a share of the vote, but is unlikely to emerge as a major challenge to either Dravidian party. While he is still young in politics, Mr. Vijay may fade into irrelevance if he fails to play his cards wisely. Another player is Seeman, the leader of the Naam Tamizhar Katchi, who has refused to align with any party. Seeking to mobilise voters on the Tamil nationalist plank, his party crossed the 8% vote share in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and now qualifies as a recognised State party under the Election Commission of India's guidelines. Mr. Seeman seems determined to fight the Assembly elections on his own, but he may find it difficult to stay relevant unless he wins seats. The overcrowded political landscape poses a serious challenge to both the DMK and AIADMK. Neither can afford to lose these elections. The DMK is attempting to capitalise on its record of fulfilling electoral promises and maintaining a cohesive alliance. The AIADMK, once a formidable force, has not yet mobilised effectively to take advantage of the anti-incumbency factor that even the best performing governments face. It is unclear whether anti-incumbency will benefit the AIADMK or Mr. Vijay. Even if Mr. Vijay succeeds, that may help the DMK, as it will prevent the AIADMK from gaining the edge that it desperately needs.

DMK govt installed 11 memorials, 63 statues in four years
DMK govt installed 11 memorials, 63 statues in four years

Time of India

time4 hours ago

  • Time of India

DMK govt installed 11 memorials, 63 statues in four years

Chennai: The DMK govt has installed 63 statues and 11 memorials over the last four years, which is more than double the number of statues erected during the 10 year rule of the previous AIADMK govt. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now A statement from the govt said the AIADMK had installed only 25 statues between 2011 and 2021. While the DMK govt has installed more than five dozen statues across the state so far, work was underway to construct statues for 28 more leaders and 12 additional memorials, furthering the Dravidian model govt's efforts to preserve and honour the contributions of icons who shaped Tamil identity and history, according to the statement. The statement noted that former chief minister M Karunanidhi was the pioneer in honouring stalwarts. Among the notable structures installed by Karunanidhi was the statue of Tamil poet Tiruvalluvar in 2000 and the govt celebrated 25the anniversary of the statues, recently. Chief minister M K Stalin is continuing the legacy of Karunanidhi by constructing statues for leaders, Tamil scholars and even for leaders from foreign countries who have contributed for the development of Tamil society. Among the statues unveiled by the current govt include Dr B R Ambedkar at the Ambedkar Memorial in Chennai, Col John Pennycuick in England, freedom fighter Anjalai Ammal in Cuddalore and Sir John Marshall, British archaeologist in Egmore. In addition, the house where poet Bharathiyar lived in Varanasi has been converted into a memorial, the statement said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store