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Stalin, at the helm of the state, has an ambitious goal in sight: securing a seventh term for the DMK in 2026 and achieving DMK’s first consecutive win in the last 55 years
Stalin is projecting the DMK as the chief defender of the state’s cultural and linguistic heritage. (PTI)
In 1971, a big gathering — the Anti-Hindi Imposition Conference — took place in Coimbatore where, amid the sea of passionate people, a young man stood out.
His name was MK Stalin, the son of M Karunanidhi, leader of the DMK. That day, in his maiden speech, Stalin made a vow that would shape his politics. “Add my name to the list of students ready to make any sacrifice for Tamil,” he declared, signalling his unwavering commitment to the cause.
Fast forward to 2025, and one can see how a 72-year-old Stalin, now the chief minister, is doubling down on the Tamil cause and virtually stealing the spotlight ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu elections.
There is a political strategy behind Stalin’s vociferous attack on the Centre. Will it help him re-write history, even as a major alleged liquor scam is haunting the party?
Since 1971, the DMK has never been able to repeat power in Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK has managed to do the same thrice as a dominant power in the state, but it seems currently in a disarray.
Stalin, at the helm of the state, has an ambitious goal in sight: securing a seventh term for the DMK in 2026 and achieving DMK’s first consecutive win in the last 55 years. As the state marches toward the next election, the political dynamics are anything but predictable. And Stalin knows he needs to whip up a major cause to catch the imagination of people yet again and not let anti-incumbency derail the DMK.
Hence, we see Stalin locking horns with the BJP at the Centre over a series of issues — from Hindi imposition to delimitation, and the denial of central funds. He has also latched on to the “uncivilised” barb by Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan to say Tamils are being humiliated by the Centre.
Stalin says these are not just political issues — but existential threats to Tamil Nadu’s pride and linguistic autonomy. He is projecting the DMK as the chief defender of the state’s cultural and linguistic heritage — whether it’s fighting for the right to teach in Tamil or opposing the National Education Policy, Stalin says he is the steadfast champion of Tamil identity.
Let’s cut to his speech on March 1, his 72nd birthday. Stalin urged the people of Tamil Nadu to rise and protect the state’s autonomy, social justice, and welfare programmes. He described two “existential battles” facing the state: one to protect the Tamil language and another to resist the Centre’s move to change constituency delimitation. To quote Stalin, this is not just a political fight — it is a battle for Tamil Nadu’s very soul.
So, we see Stalin rush his ministers and MPs to seven states to galvanise support from their CMs and former CMs against delimitation. A big meeting is slated in Chennai of these leaders on March 22. And there is Stalin’s move to term the new National Education Policy (NEP) ‘Nagpur Education Policy’ to claim how the RSS-influenced BJP is forcing Hindi imposition.
The Political Scene in Tamil Nadu
The BJP has tried, repeatedly, to make inroads into Tamil Nadu, but their efforts have been met with staunch opposition. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the DMK-led alliance triumphed with a clean sweep of all 39 seats, reinforcing Stalin’s stature as a political juggernaut and emboldening DMK’s chances in next year’s assembly elections. BJP’s state chief Annamalai lost his own election from Coimbatore in 2024. The AIADMK-BJP alliance broke before the 2024 elections, and they continue to be on separate paths.
But now, there’s a new star on the horizon to give a challenge to both the DMK and the BJP. It is Vijay, who mesmerised the crowd with his cinematic oration at his party’s first conference in Vikravandi, in which he positioned himself as equally opposed to the BJP and the DMK. He says there is a publicity-seeking government sitting in New Delhi which is neglecting Tamil Nadu, while there is a publicity-seeking government in Tamil Nadu that has forgotten the welfare of its people.
Stalin says people will never accept Vijay’s party as they had seen a party like the DMK. Other mega cine stars in Tamil Nadu, like Rajinikanth and Kamal Hassan, were not able to crack the political battlefield. The DMK also has a younger offering to counter Vijay — their rising star and one of the most closely watched figures in Tamil Nadu politics, Udhayanidhi Stalin, the 47-year-old son of MK Stalin. Udhayanidhi, a first-time MLA, was elevated to the position of deputy chief minister last year, signalling that the DMK intends to continue its dynastic political legacy.
Many think the Tamil Nadu elections in 2026 are all about a fight between Udhayanidhi, Vijay and Annamalai. But one cannot surely discount AIADMK, which is regrouping and attempting to reclaim their place at the table. However, the AIADMK has a fractured leadership, with many jockeying for the leadership position. Despite this turmoil, former CM Palaniswami’s recent speeches indicate a desperation to reinvigorate the party and convince the people that AIADMK is still relevant and capable of challenging the DMK’s supremacy. Also, there is a big question — will BJP and AIADMK again re-align forces? It looks difficult amidst the ‘Hindi imposition’ narrative as AIADMK cannot afford to stand with the BJP on this issue that could dominate the next Tamil Nadu elections.
DMK’s Challenges
The DMK also faces some big challenges. Law and order remains a pressing concern, and despite Stalin’s popular image, his administration has faced accusations of corruption and inefficiency. An ED probe into a massive liquor scam in the state worth Rs 1,000 crore is threatening to blow up ahead of the elections. The AIADMK says the scam could be worth Rs 4,0000 crore and wants Stalin to resign, even as DMK terms it a witch-hunt by the Centre’s investigating agencies ahead of elections.
Moreover, there’s the growing issue of Tamil Nadu’s debt, which has ballooned to a staggering Rs 8 lakh crore. As the state’s finances come under pressure, Stalin’s government has had to tread a fine line between pushing forward ambitious welfare programmes and ensuring fiscal discipline.
However, the Tamil Nadu government has been quick to defend its spending on social programmes, which it argues are critical to the well-being of the state’s most vulnerable.
Welfare Dose
This brings us to Stalin’s second piece of ammunition beyond invoking Tamil pride — this is his welfare model and progressive development.
In its last budget before the elections just last week, DMK has tried to further its commitment to the welfare of Tamil Nadu’s people, especially its women and youth who have been at the heart of Stalin’s political agenda. Education remains a focal point, with a budget allocation of Rs 55,261 crore for education, the largest chunk of the state’s budget. Of this, a significant portion of over 80 per cent is earmarked for school education, with an increase in funding for government schools. Stalin’s government has also committed to ensuring that the quality of education is not compromised despite the Centre withholding Rs 2,152 crore in Samagra Siksha funds.
Stalin has remained firm on his stance, stating that Tamil Nadu will continue to fund its educational initiatives, even at the cost of losing central funds.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme has been a big success, providing nutritious meals to 17.5 lakh students in government schools across rural areas. This initiative has now expanded to urban areas, benefiting an additional 3.14 lakh students. Stalin’s commitment to ensuring that the youth of Tamil Nadu are well-fed, well-educated, and prepared for the future has cemented his status as a leader who delivers on his promises.
In another ground-breaking move, the state has introduced a programme that gives Rs 1,000 per month to four lakh female students to encourage them to pursue higher education. The result has been a 19 per cent increase in female enrollment in higher education in just one year. Additionally, laptops for 20 lakh college students over the next two years signal a forward-thinking approach to education in the digital age.
Under Stalin, Tamil Nadu has seen an unprecedented push toward infrastructure development. The budget announcements of the expansion of the Chennai Metro, with new metro lines and the development of a Regional Rapid Transport System, are set to transform the state’s transportation network, reducing congestion and improving urban mobility. The DMK-led alliance had swept all 22 seats in Chennai district in the 2021 elections.
Perhaps, most ambitious of all is the proposed development of a 2,000-acre Global City near Chennai. This mega-project is designed to house IT parks, fintech trade zones, and high-tech companies. With a focus on innovation and technology, the Global City will position Tamil Nadu as a hub for the future, fostering economic growth, creating jobs, and enhancing the state’s global reputation, says the DMK.
Stalin Rallying Forces
At a time when the INDIA bloc seems splintered, it is Stalin who is emerging as someone rallying the regional and national opposition forces together against the BJP. Stalin is trying to build a powerful alliance with these regional leaders. In fact, the Joint Action Committee formed by Stalin in alliance with leaders from Kerala, Odisha, Punjab, West Bengal, Karnataka, and Telangana has gained significant traction. The growing regional sentiment against the BJP’s centralising tactics has united these states under a common cause — to preserve their autonomy and resist attempts by the Centre to impose one-size-fits-all solutions.
Stalin’s March 22 conference is poised to be a turning point in Tamil Nadu’s ongoing battle to maintain its linguistic and cultural pride. Top opposition leaders from Kerala, Telangana, Karnataka, and Odisha are all expected to attend, underscoring the solidarity between states that have felt the brunt of the Centre’s decisions.
Amidst all this is MK Stalin’s bigger dream —repeating power in Tamil Nadu next year for the first time in over five decades. Will his strategy work?
