Chennai: Hindutva won’t take root the place folks have been taught for generations to query, cause and resist caste hierarchy, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin instructed ThePrint, asserting that the Bharatiya Janata Get together has no future within the state.
In an e mail interview to ThePrint, the DMK chief predicted that the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance will win over 200 seats (out of a quorum of 234) within the upcoming 2026 meeting elections.
Stalin outlined key focus areas for the subsequent 5 years below the advanced ‘Dravidian Mannequin Model 2.0’.
Stalin predicted a robust efficiency for the League, citing the welfare system that reached each family. “We’re assured that we are able to win greater than 200 seats as an alliance. Our flagship welfare scheme has reached each family. Our financial efficiency is unparalleled. We’re very assured of a giant win,” he instructed ThePrint.
Within the 2021 polls, the DMK-led alliance secured 159 out of 234 seats, whereas the DMK alone received 133 seats and fashioned the federal government with an absolute majority. For the 2026 elections, the DMK has introduced candidates for 164 seats, 9 fewer than in 2021, reflecting its response to its allies.
When requested whether or not this discount in DMK’s seat share amounted to ceding area, Stalin denied the concept. He asserted that the DMK will carry extra seats to the alliance as it’s strategic and inclusive. The occasion accommodates allies reminiscent of Congress, DMDK, VCK, CPI, CPI(M), MDMK, IUML and MMK.
“Accommodating present and new allies will strengthen not simply the DMK however your complete alliance. A broader and extra cohesive alliance will collectively carry in additional seats and reap wealthy electoral dividends on polling day,” he mentioned.
He added that the occasion will proceed to ship excessive progress and welfare at scale, non-negotiable, aiming for a $1 trillion economic system by 2030 by increasing the funding ecosystem by city and rural infrastructure, water safety, and youth expertise growth for international trade, and making certain that welfare methods attain deeper into the communities that also want them most.
“The Dravidian Mannequin model 2.0 isn’t a slogan however an in depth roadmap that is able to be carried out from day one,” he mentioned.
With the DMK framing the 2026 elections as ‘Tamil Nadu versus Delhi/NDA’, Stalin mentioned there isn’t any place for Hindutva politics in Tamil Nadu. “That is the land of Thanthai Periyar of rational considering and social justice. Hindutva won’t take root the place folks have been taught for generations to query, cause and resist caste hierarchies. All makes an attempt by the Bharatiya Janata Get together to make use of the communal canine whistle have failed and they’ll proceed to fail. Tamil Nadu won’t ever permit Hindutva politics to outline its nationwide life,” he instructed ThePrint.
Simply days earlier than the Tamil Nadu meeting elections, MK Stalin led an agitation in opposition to the Centre’s boundary invoice and urged the southern states to unite. After the rejection of the constitutional modification invoice, Stalin mentioned that the state, which has managed the inhabitants for 50 years, should not lose its voice in parliament, including that the precept was non-negotiable.
“We attraction to the Prime Minister to present 33 per cent reservation to ladies throughout the present powers of Parliament itself as per the present constitutional modification invoice handed in 2023 with the assist of all opposition events together with DMK,” Stalin mentioned.
Concerning the principle opposition in Tamil Nadu, Stalin had rejected the present management of the AIADMK. “The AIADMK as we speak lacks ideology and relevance as its most important occasion, Mr. Palaniswami, has utterly surrendered to the BJP.The AIADMK has grow to be a slave to the BJP in Tamil Nadu and is pursuing Delhi’s insurance policies on the expense of state rights. “They’re lending their electoral community to put it up for sale. The current management is an insult to all of the leaders who constructed this occasion previously. The BJP has not solely weakened the AIADMK however has really humiliated it,” he mentioned. he mentioned.
He mentioned he was not involved concerning the efficiency of the AIADMK-BJP mix within the polls. “Not for a second. The folks of Tamil Nadu have constantly and categorically rejected the BJP at each alternative. Our DMK-led alliance defeated this ADMK-BJP alliance in 2019 and as soon as once more the folks of Tamil Nadu will defeat the ADMK-BJP alliance,” Stalin mentioned.
When requested concerning the tradition of ‘freedom politics’, Stalin defended the continuation of welfare insurance policies regardless of the nation recording constructive financial indicators, distinguishing it from ‘freebies’. “Freebies are random handouts with no financial foundation. However welfare methods are structured interventions with measurable social advantages. I reject confusion,” he mentioned.
He mentioned Tamil Nadu’s welfare buildings reminiscent of mid-day meal, medical health insurance, monetary assist and free bus journey for ladies immediately contribute to the standard of the workforce, productiveness and progress charge, including that as per the revised estimates of the Union Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, the GSDP progress charge of 11.19 per cent in 2024-25 is the very best amongst all states, as evidenced by the double-digit progress for the primary time in a decade.
He defined that the federal government severely consults with economists earlier than rolling out any main welfare coverage, and mentioned prosperity isn’t uniform. “Thirty-two of the 38 districts could also be above the nationwide per capita common, however the common hides the final households within the final villages who’re nonetheless struggling. Welfare schemes are investments in human capital that assist progress. The second you cease investing in folks, the expansion story ends. Tamil Nadu’s prosperity was constructed on welfare, not despite it.”
Nonetheless, Stalin acknowledged that there have been limits to the implementation of such welfare schemes and that each rupee needed to be justified. “We should consistently assess what advantages us and what doesn’t. Accountable welfare and monetary self-discipline will not be mutually unique. Tamil Nadu has confirmed repeatedly that they’ll coexist,” he added.
Reflecting on the governance affect of his predecessor CN Annadurai and his father M. Karunanidhi, Stalin mentioned, “Our leaders taught me to go to the folks and serve them. Our Dravidian mannequin is a traditional mannequin of fine and clear governance. Our plans at the moment are an instance for a lot of international locations.”
Concerning tensions with former Tamil Nadu governor RN Ravi, Stalin criticized the Heart’s interference in state affairs. He identified that the Bharatiya Janata Get together-led central authorities was undermining the elected opposition authorities and the governor’s actions mirrored this.
Referring to Parliament’s overview of the governor’s powers and function, he mentioned, “Now we have already arrange a high-level committee on Union-State Relations below former Supreme Court docket Justice Kurien Joseph, which has submitted the primary a part of its report and submitted it to Parliament. The committee has made suggestions for a variety of reforms associated to the governor’s workplace. I hope the federal authorities will mirror on the politicization of the governor’s workplace and set up the governor’s workplace throughout the states.” As an alternative of encouraging him to operate below the route of the BJP, it flouted constitutional boundaries,” he mentioned.
(Edited by Vinny Mishra)
Additionally learn: Why Congress stalls in 2026 Tamil Nadu elections
