Tamil Nadu, Mar 10 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin on Monday launched a sharp attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party, alleging that “saffron forces” were attempting to dominate Tamil Nadu, but asserting that his party would firmly resist such efforts.
Addressing a large gathering at a party conference in Tiruchirappalli, the leader of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam said his party would not allow any attempt to politically “swallow” the state. He claimed the BJP was gradually trying to expand its influence by aligning with regional parties.
Stalin also criticised Edappadi K. Palaniswami, chief of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, accusing him of compromising his party’s independence to maintain ties with the BJP.
The chief minister further claimed that the BJP had sidelined allies in other states after electoral gains, citing developments in Bihar involving Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.
Stalin asserted that the National Democratic Alliance would not gain ground in Tamil Nadu and declared that the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections would effectively become a contest between the state’s regional identity and the BJP-led coalition.
Highlighting his government’s achievements, Stalin pointed to welfare schemes launched during the DMK’s tenure. These include the Tamil Puthalvan Thittam, which provides monthly financial assistance to male students, and the Puthumai Penn Thittam, aimed at supporting women students. He also cited the Chief Minister’s breakfast scheme benefiting millions of schoolchildren and financial assistance programmes for women.
The DMK leader said the party’s alliance network remained one of its strongest advantages, noting that the Secular Progressive Alliance, comprising more than 20 parties including the Indian National Congress, would fight the elections together.
Expressing confidence in the coalition’s prospects, Stalin said the next five years of governance under the “Dravidian model” would surpass the achievements of the current administration and predicted that the DMK would return to power for another term.