DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday (April 5, 2026) dismissed the suggestion that the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections would be a “close” multi-cornered contest.
In his first interview this election season, he told The Hindu, the four-way race would ultimately favour the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.
“The contest is essentially between the DMK alliance and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam alliance. Other parties lack the organisational strength and infrastructure to challenge us,” he told this correspondent amidst the electioneering in Virudhunagar.
Mr. Stalin expressed confidence that the DMK Government’s welfare schemes and its election manifesto have already earned widespread public appreciation. “Our manifesto, particularly, the Illatharasi scheme to distribute coupon for ₹8,000 to purchase or replace household appliances has become the super star of the election. We will win the elections comfortably,” he noted.
To a question on why he was not responding to actor-turned-politician Vijay, who has been critical of the DMK in his campaign, Mr. Stalin said he did not view anyone as a personal adversary.
“Personally, I do not consider anyone my enemy. I do not want to divert my attention from the destination I aim to reach,” he added.
Mr. Stalin argued it was against democratic principles to surrender State’s rights and adjust with the Centre. “It is surprising that you think the BJP would do good to Tamil Nadu if we made such adjustments. It would not do any good; instead, it would cause more harm. It is slavery,” he said in his first interview of the election season with The Hindu, amidst the electioneering in in Virudhunagar. He contended that Tamil Nadu did not substantially benefit during the erstwhile rule of AIADMK government [headed by Edappadi K. Palaniswami], which made adjustments with the BJP government at the Centre.
You secured victory for the DMK-led alliance in the 2021 Assembly polls and the 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha polls. How do you assess the trend this time in the wake of the entry of a new political party [Actor C. Joseph Vijay’s TVK]?
We will repeat a similar victory. The party has consistently won elections, including the 2021 Assembly polls and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, after I assumed leadership following the demise of M. Karunanidhi. Every election witnesses the arrival and departure of political parties. There is nothing new in this. The DMK has observed such trends over the past 70 years.
The ‘Dravidian model’ government of the DMK has implemented schemes for all sections of society, cutting across party lines. Every family in the State has directly benefited from these initiatives. The DMK remains a political movement committed to the people of Tamil Nadu.
At the same time, the people of the State are aware of how the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), together, have betrayed the interests of Tamil Nadu. People have experienced how the Union Government failed to allocate adequate funds or extend sufficient assistance for relief work during floods caused by heavy rains. By aligning with the BJP, the AIADMK has let down the people of Tamil Nadu. This is the reality in the present election.
People will deliver their verdict in our favour, weighing the DMK’s governance and welfare measures against the AIADMK-BJP combine, which has acted against the interests of Tamil Nadu.
You have been critical of the BJP — more so than of any other party, including the Congress. However, there is a view that, politics aside, you could have adjusted with the BJP at the Centre, to secure what is due to Tamil Nadu. How do you respond?
It is surprising to suggest that the BJP would do good to Tamil Nadu if we made such adjustments. It would not do any good; instead, it would cause more harm. The Union Government, headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is deliberately acting in a vindictive manner towards the States ruled by non-BJP parties. Mr. Modi, who is expected to function as the Prime Minister of all States, has reduced himself to being the Prime Minister of BJP-ruled States.
The BJP’s ‘double-engine’ slogan — governance by the same party at both the State and the Centre — is misleading. BJP-ruled States have not achieved significant growth; they merely receive greater financial allocations. Even Union Government statistics show Tamil Nadu tops several growth indicators. We have demonstrated that a State can achieve progress without assistance from the Centre, and despite the obstacles created by it.
The BJP has implemented the Citizenship Amendment Act against minorities and enforced regulations such as the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act affecting Christian institutions. It is attempting to impose Hindi at the cost of regional languages, deny funds to non-BJP-ruled States, and run parallel administrations in States through Governors. The DMK is fighting to safeguard democracy, as the BJP government is acting against the fundamental principles of the Constitution. This is not merely a commitment to Tamil Nadu, but to the nation as a whole.
However, whenever there is a threat or aggression from neighbouring countries, the DMK, as part of the nation, has cooperated fully with the Centre. We consider that our duty.
It is against democratic principles to surrender rights and adjust with the Centre; that would amount to slavery. After the death of former Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, the AIADMK functioned in that manner for four years. Tamil Nadu did not receive significant schemes or funds during that period. Instead, the State bore the burden of policies such as National Eligibility cum Entrance Test and increased electricity tariffs due to the UDAY scheme. The DMK will not allow itself to be remotely controlled.
For the first time during this election campaign, you responded to former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who made personal attacks against you. What, in your view, prompted him to make such allegations?
Mr. Palaniswami is speaking irresponsibly, foreseeing defeat in the election. The 91-year-old Kalaignar (late M Karunanidhi) spent 81 years in public life. He dedicated himself to the Tamil language, social justice, and the rights of States. He documented his life transparently in Nenjukku Needhi. His final days and medical treatment were made public through detailed medical bulletins.
Kalaignar was my father, but he was also my leader, as he was to millions of followers. That position transcended all other relationships. When Mr. Palaniswami commented on him without restraint, I could not tolerate and remain silent — not only as his son, but also as one among the DMK cadre.
The DMK has never resorted to denigrating leaders on public platforms. Even when leaders such as M.G. Ramachandran and J. Jayalalithaa, who opposed us politically, passed away, we would not speak ill of them. However, Mr. Palaniswami made personal remarks about Kalaignar’s final days and about me, without any decency and qualms. This shows that the AIADMK, having lost public support, has no substantive issues to raise during the campaign. The fear of electoral defeat has gripped the party. Mr. Palaniswami should exercise restraint over his tongue.