Chennai: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin launched a sharp attack on the AIADMK on Thursday, accusing it of acting as a gateway for the BJP to gain a foothold in the state. Speaking at a DMK booth agents’ meeting in Chennai, Udhayanidhi called the upcoming 2026 Assembly election “a battle to protect our land, pride, and mother tongue”.
“AIADMK is desperately trying to pave the way for the BJP,” he said. “But as long as there are cadres in black and red, saffron will never find space in Tamil Nadu.”
He accused AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami of reversing his stance on BJP ties, saying, “He once claimed there would be no alliance with the BJP. But later he went silent, cut a secret deal, and betrayed the people. That betrayal must be uprooted.”
Udhayanidhi also took aim at the BJP-led Centre, alleging continued discrimination against Tamil Nadu, especially in financial allocations.
“In the last academic year, Tamil Nadu didn’t receive a single rupee for education from the Centre, while states like Uttar Pradesh and Assam got thousands of crores,” he claimed.
Reassuring DMK supporters about Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s health, Udhayanidhi said, “Our leader is recovering well—not just because of medical care, but because of your love. He’ll be back home in two days.” He noted that Stalin has continued to oversee government affairs even while hospitalised.
Reflecting on the legacy of late DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi, he said, “Kalaignar remained active on Facebook and Twitter even at 90. That’s the kind of leadership and dedication we uphold.”
Highlighting DMK’s governance record, Udhayanidhi pointed out that over ₹1,000 has been transferred to each of the 1.15 crore beneficiaries under the Women’s Rights Scheme in the past 23 months. He also cited Tamil Nadu’s 9.69% economic growth rate—touted as the highest in the country, according to Union government data.
Describing booth agents as “the lifeblood of the party,” Udhayanidhi lauded their contribution to the DMK’s electoral strength. He announced that over 2 crore new members have been enrolled, with Kolathur—Chief Minister Stalin’s constituency—leading the drive, followed by Harbour.
He concluded by stating that the DMK-led INDIA bloc is “not just an electoral alliance but an ideological front”, expressing confidence in its return to power under Stalin’s leadership.
