On the final sitting of the 16th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Friday (February 20, 2026), Chief Minister M.K. Stalin asserted that his party, the DMK, would return to power after the elections this year and continue its work with greater speed and commitment.
“I have been guided by my conscience and remain ready to work even harder. I firmly believe that with the Dravidian Model 2.0 government, we will outperform our own achievements,” Mr. Stalin said in his 15-minute speech.
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He said he was satisfied that over the past five years, the Dravidian model government – inspired by the self-respect and social justice ideals of Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, the State autonomy vision of C.N. Annadurai, and the administrative acumen of M. Karunanidhi – had fulfilled the responsibilities entrusted to it to the best of its ability.
He said those in leadership should possess patience, tolerance, dedication, compassion, and commitment to duty, and that he had adhered to these qualities. The experience he gained over the past five years had given him the strength and confidence to elevate Tamil Nadu to greater heights, Mr. Stalin said, adding that he was ready to work even harder and face any challenges.
