DMK, Congress together in fight against BJP: Stalin

In a message to Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, DMK's new president M K Stalin on Wednesday said that "they stand together" in the fight to uphold secular values.

In a long missive to his party cadre, Stalin asked them to work towards “decisively defeating” the BJP and AIADMK governments at the Centre and in Tamil Nadu respectively.

He said this while explaining to his cadre that the party was not willing to do business with the BJP. He assured them that the party would continue to follow the path laid by M Karunanidhi on the crucial issue of an alliance, albeit, for now.

With the party's invitation to BJP leaders for the Karunanidhi memorial ceremony on Thursday sparking fresh speculation on possible political realignment, Stalin, according to political observers, seems to be walking the “extra mile” to convince the cadre and “like-minded” parties that the DMK would not deviate from its “secular principles.”

Continuing his attack on the BJP, Stalin, in his first letter to DMK cadre as party president, outlined two goals to achieve in the near future — to send packing the “spineless” AIADMK government that has mortgaged “self-respect” of the state, and work with “secular forces” to “safeguard the country” from the saffron party.

“The goal is to defeat the BJP government that is hell-bent on painting India saffron by digging the grave for social justice, by damaging the secular and pluralistic fabric of the country, by snatching state autonomy and pushing communalism through the throat,” Stalin said in his letter.

Also, Stalin made it clear that the DMK was marching towards achieving the "goal" with “like-minded parties,” and said those trying to “create confusion” would only be disappointed."

Stalin's statement on Wednesday came just a few hours after he profusely thanked Rahul for his “thoughtful wishes”. “We stand together in the fight to uphold secular values,” Stalin told Rahul, who had wished him luck on being elevated as DMK President. Both parties have been together since 2016, but they have also been indulging in acts of political posturing.

Govi Lenin, a long-time DMK observer, told DH that Stalin's attack on the BJP is aimed at sending a message that the party would continue to play a crucial role in the national politics as it did under Karunanidhi.

“The DMK has been against BJP for a long time, and it was only after the death of Karunanidhi and Vajpayee – leaders from both parties extended political courtesies – there was speculation in the media about a realignment. But, Stalin's speech and the statement makes it clear that he will not deviate from the basic principles followed by his father,” he said.

DMK MP R S Bharathi told DH, “It is yet another way of handing out an assurance that the DMK will not deviate from the path shown by Kalaignar (Karunanidhi).