DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin being felicitated by party leaders at the booth-level agents’ conference in Coimbatore on Friday, February 27, 2026.
| Photo Credit: PERIASAMY M
: Chief Minister M.K. Stalin reiterated on Friday that Tamil Nadu - alluding to ideologically-strong DMK-led Secular Progressive combine - will prevail over Delhi, with reference to BJP’s “opportunistic alliance” in the forthcoming Assembly polls.“Triumph of broad democratic spectrum of DMK-led alliance encompassing the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, Periyar, and Ambedkar and interests of minorities would imply victory for Tamil Nadu.”That the AIADMK and BJP have joined hands only for facing the election, and would part ways thereafter, has been exposed by the acknowledgement of the intent behind the alliance by AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami himself. “Mr. Palaniswami had (only) spoken his mind-voice aloud.”Ideological binding was the reason for DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance setting a precedent by lasting a lengthy duration, right from the last Assembly election, local body polls, and Parliamentary elections to the forthcoming Assembly polls, Mr. Stalin said further, while addressing the Western Region Booth Level Agent (BLA) conference in Coimbatore.Exoneration of AAP (Aaam Aadmi Party) leaders Arvind Kejriwal and Manish Sisodia of wrong-doing by the judiciary in the the (excise) case has eventually revealed the “vengeful” approach of the BJP to keep them in confinement for long and deny their liberty. The DMK was not a “slave” to relent to BJP’s plan to unleash intimidation in a similar manner, Mr. Stalin asserted, training his guns on Prime Minister Narendra Modi frequently in his hour-long speech.This courage of the DMK was what was drawing allies and people alike into its fold.The people were aware of the denial of key projects and funds for Tamil Nadu by the BJP Government, and cannot be cheated, he pointed out. The Centre had neglected Tamil Nadu entirely for the last 11 years, Mr. Stalin said, making specific references to what he described as “denial” of metro rail projects for Coimbatore, Madurai and Tiruchi; withholding funds accruing to Tamil Nadu under schemes covering school education, water and electricity; and “neglect” of the Hosur Airport project.Mr. Stalin ridiculed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the latter’s recent appreciation of late AIADMK leader Jayalalithaa, seeking to know if he had forgotten the ‘Modi versus Lady’ slogan with which the 2014 Lok Sabha elections were contested in the State. “Have you forgotten about describing the AIADMK leader as most corrupt,” Mr. Stalin questioned Mr. Modi.There was a setback in the DMK’s performance in the Western region in the 2021 Assembly polls, but the party will make up for it in the forthcoming elections, replicating its performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.The DMK combine’s win in at least 200 seats was a certainty, Mr. Stalin said.Applauding former Minister and MLA Senthil Balaji, party’s Western Region In-Charge, Mr. Stalin said, the former, with his proven organisational ability was a nightmare for opponents. Published - February 28, 2026 02:12 am IST
