Tamil Nadu Assembly Elections 2026 | DH Interview: 'We crushed BJP’s attempts to reduce south’s political representation': CM M K Stalin

In an interview with DH’s E T B Sivapriyan, Stalin discussed his government’s performance.

M K Stalin has crisscrossed Tamil Nadu for election campaign since March 31. He steps off his van to address people, spends mornings at markets or tea shops reading the election pulse—hoping to make history by returning DMK to power for a consecutive second term, first since 1972.

Responding to questions from DH's E T B Sivapriyan, Stalin discussed his government's performance, BJP, AIADMK, delimitation, and why he framed the April 23 elections as Tamil Nadu vs NDA. Edited excerpts:

How will you rate the performance of your government in the last five years? Could you please tell us one scheme that is very close to your heart?

With the moto ‘everything for everyone’, we have implemented several schemes during the five-year tenure of the Dravidian Model government. Instead of me rating our government, let me recollect what a citizen said.

When we came to power in 2021, I promised to govern in a way that people who did not vote for us regret their choice.

A few weeks ago, a person posted a video by listing schemes like Vidiyal Payanam, Pudhumai Penn, Tamil Pudhalvan, and Naan Mudhalvan. He revealed that he didn’t vote for the DMK in 2021, but will vote for the party this election. Is there any better evaluation than this?

We have designed our schemes in a way that nobody should be left behind. That is why people from all sections of the society support us. Of many initiatives, two schemes are very close to my heart.

First, the Magalir Urimai Thogai (monthly assistance to women) which we will be increasing to Rs 2,000 in the Dravidian Model 2.0 government. Next, the CM’s Breakfast Scheme for school children. This scheme is not just close to my heart but has occupied a space in my heart. We have promised to extend this scheme from sixth to eight standard.

You have projected the 2026 assembly elections as a battle between Tamil Nadu and NDA. Does it mean that you are acknowledging BJP’s growth in Tamil Nadu or merely harvesting the anti-BJP sentiments prevailing in the state for votes?

BJP has not grown in Tamil Nadu; it can never grow here. The BJP is frustrated that it cannot come (to power) here, and that is why it is riding on the back of the AIADMK to capture power through backdoor. We have taken up the ‘TN vs NDA’ campaign only to tear off the BJP’s AIADMK mask.

The BJP-led Union Government is trying to snatch the political rights of Tamil Nadu and Southern states. We stood firm and crushed the BJP’s attempts to reduce our political representation. But it is the AIADMK which stabbed people of Tamil Nadu on their back by supporting the move. That is why we have framed this election as Tamil Nadu vs Delhi.

DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance has won three consecutive general elections. Despite this, you are expanding the alliance. Is it because you want to neutralize the anti-incumbency votes against your government or due to the contest turning into four corner?

We have won every election since 2019 with massive public support and the five-year Dravidian model rule has only strengthened it. There is a pro-incumbency wave in Tamil Nadu, and we will confidently win over 200 seats with people’s backing.

AIADMK has cobbled up a strong coalition. Why do you see the multi-cornered contest? Who are the principal contenders?

I would like to correct you that they are not a strong alliance. They have been repeatedly rejected by the people. I have already said that this is an election that pits the team protecting Tamil Nadu’s rights and future against the Delhi team trying to turn everyone into puppets.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP leaders talk about double-engine sarkar in Tamil Nadu. Even AIADMK leaders talk about it. How do you see this slogan? Is this even right in a democracy?

Tamil Nadu has a super-fast engine. It has posted growth that even double-engine states have never achieved. The so-called double engine states rank last in the list of development but first in communal violence and crimes against women. Tamil Nadu rejects the dabba engine; we don’t need double engine.

Despite your government’s success in several sectors, opposition parties allege that you as Chief Minister has not fulfilled several promises made to the people in the run-up to the 2021 assembly election. Your answer.

Which opposition is saying that? Is it the BJP which came to power by cheating people in 2014 by promising to transfer Rs 15 lakh into the bank accounts of every citizen? Or is it the AIADMK which did not even fulfill 10 per cent of the promises made in 2016 and instead mortgaged state’s rights?

What right do they have to talk promises? We have implemented schemes not only those were promised but also those that were not. There has never been a government in the past that has delivered like our administration.

Free breakfast scheme, and Rs 1,000 monthly assistance to college students from government schools were never promised but implemented.

We have achieved this despite the BJP-led Union Government’s non-cooperation and refusal to disburse funds due for us. We deliver what we promise, and beyond. That is why our election manifesto is a superstar among people.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi alleged in one of the public meetings in Tamil Nadu that women are not safe in Tamil Nadu. There is also vehement criticism that law and order has not been maintained well in the state under the DMK government. Your answer.

The Prime Minister forgets Manipur while speaking in Tamil Nadu. BJP has no moral right to talk women’s safety.

The violence in Manipur, sexual assault of minors in Kashmir, harassment of Olympic medallists, and crimes against women in Uttar Pradesh that has drawn condemnation from the Supreme Court.

The media should ask the Prime Minister why he attacks Tamil Nadu instead. The truth is, Tamil Nadu leads BJP states in women’s safety and law and order.

You have promised several schemes in the event of coming to power for a second consecutive term. Does the government have enough funds to implement those schemes? Won’t borrowing more further put a burden on the exchequer?

The 2011-2021 AIADMK regime left us debt-ridden. The four-year AIADMK government (led by Edappadi K Palaniswami) which wore the BJP mask destroyed the state’s finances.

We constituted an Economic Advisory Council, and exposed their financial mismanagement by releasing a white paper. We have stabilised the state’s finances. Despite BJP’s GST bias denying funds due for Tamil Nadu in sectors like education, and water, achieved 11.19 per cent growth.

Our target now is to make Tamil Nadu a USD 1 trillion economy. We borrow less than AIADMK’s wasteful debt, while delivering women’s rights. Welfare schemes are not like BJP waiving corporate loans worth several lakh crores. What we do are social investments strengthening local economies."

Direct Benefit Transfer do help people. But is it right on the part of political parties to use it as a weapon to win elections?)

It was the BJP that weaponised DBT in Bihar polls. We do not do elections stunts. The BJP and its puppet, the AIADMK, conspired to stop the disbursal of monthly assistance to women during elections but we defeated their plans.

A sudden halt would have hurt 1.31 crore families and that is why we released the amount in advance. This is neither politics nor weapon -- just women’s welfare."

ED and other central agencies have filed cases against your cabinet colleagues. Is it fair to view them only through the prism of BJP’s vendetta politics?

It is not only the DMK that says the ED acts at the whims and fancies of the BJP; courts have passed strictures against the agency. Many politicians in North India, who were investigated by the ED, have now been declared clean after joining the BJP’s washing machines. Either cases against them have been dropped or they are now called saints. People view the ED as one of the wings of the BJP. Their only job is to crush opposition. The entire nation says BJP writes the script, and the ED acts’.