Amit Shah or any other Shah, no one can control Tamil Nadu: says Stalin

Chennai: In an all-out attack on Amit Shah, who stitched the BJP’s alliance with AIADMK for the 2026 polls, Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday told the Union Home Minister that the DMK alliance will win the 2026 assembly elections hands down, while asserting that Tamil Nadu will always be “out of control” for Delhi.

Devoting a significant portion of his speech at a government event to tear into Shah, Stalin sought to know whether the BJP’s master strategist can promise an exemption from NEET for students from the state, assure that Hindi will not be imposed, and guarantee that Tamil Nadu’s representation will not be reduced due to constituency delimitation. 

Wondering whether it was wrong to demand states’ rights, Stalin said Tamil Nadu was forced to knock at the doors of the Supreme Court to secure a “historic” verdict against Governor R N Ravi’s overreach since the Union Government failed to act. “Let me make it clear that Tamil Nadu is fighting not just for itself but for the rights of all states across India. The power of the DMK is now evident not only to the people of Tamil Nadu but to everyone in India. This is the true strength of the DMK,” Stalin said.  

The Chief Minister’s attacks against Shah come a week after the AIADMK and BJP formalised their alliance for the 2026 polls. Stalin had termed the alliance as a “scam” by accusing the AIADMK of “mortgaging” the rights of Tamil Nadu with the BJP fearing raids by Central agencies against his party leaders.  

“I say this clearly: whether it’s Amit Shah or any other Shah, no one can rule here,” Stalin said. 

Referring to Narendra Modi’s remarks on April 6 that some people continue to “cry” despite getting record funds for their state, Stalin said he would wish to remind the Prime Minister his statement as Gujarat Chief Minister should states beg before the Union Government to get their rightful funds.  

 “When we raise legitimate questions, is it fair to dismiss us saying we are complaining? What we demand is the rights of Tamil Nadu. I am not one to weep or grovel. I am not someone who crawls and falls at anyone’s feet. We extend a hand for kinship, but we raise our voice for our rights,” Stalin said. 

Talking about Shah’s recent visit to Tamil Nadu to clinch the deal with AIADMK and his speech in Parliament that the National Democratic Alliance will form government in 2026, Stalin warned that the BJP’s formula of creating divisions within parties, intimidating politicians through raids by Central agencies to form its government, will not work in Tamil Nadu. 

“We possess a unique character and identity. Please don’t have much hope as it will be a DMK government once again in 2026. Tamil Nadu will always be out of control for Delhi. Do you think you can win by intimidating a few people here and forming alliances? Bring your entire force here, let us see who wins,” Stalin said. 

The DMK chief also alleged that it has become a habit for BJP leaders to “insult” Tamils and Tamil Nadu deliberately by referring to Shah and Modi’s statements during the Odisha polls in 2024 while targeting former IAS officer V K Pandian.   

“You and the Prime Minister claimed that the key of the Puri Jagannath Temple’s treasury was stolen and kept in Tamil Nadu. Just because a Tamil IAS officer was associated with the Odisha Chief Minister, you asked if a Tamil could rule Odisha. You cannot do the same here,” he said. 

He also spoke about the recent move by the Tamil Nadu government to establish a committee under the leadership of Justice Kurian Joseph to review Centre-state relations.