Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin has accused the AIADMK of working to facilitate the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) entry into the state, calling the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections a battle to protect Tamil identity, land, and language.
Addressing DMK booth agents in Chennai on Thursday, Udhayanidhi said, “AIADMK is desperately trying to pave the way for the BJP. But as long as cadres in black and red are standing strong, saffron will never gain ground in Tamil Nadu.”
Taking aim at AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, he said, “He once confidently said there would be no alliance with the BJP. Yet he went into hiding and struck a secret deal. This betrayal must be uprooted.”
Calling the Assembly polls a cultural and ideological fight, Udhayanidhi declared, “This election is not just political. It is about defending our land, our pride, and our mother tongue.”
He also accused the Centre of discrimination in fund allocations, pointing out that Tamil Nadu received no funds for education last year, while states like Uttar Pradesh and Assam received thousands of crores.
On Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s health, Udhayanidhi reassured party workers that he is recovering well and would return home in two days. “Our leader is handling administrative work even from the hospital,” he said, praising Stalin’s dedication and comparing his commitment to that of late DMK patriarch M. Karunanidhi, who remained active on social media well into his 90s.
He also highlighted the achievements of the DMK-led government, including the Women’s Rights Scheme, under which ₹1,000 has been distributed monthly to 1.15 crore beneficiaries for the past 23 months, and Tamil Nadu’s 9.69% economic growth rate—reported as the highest in the country by the Union Government.
Referring to the DMK-led INDIA bloc, Udhayanidhi said it is “not just an electoral alliance, but an alliance of ideologies,” and expressed confidence in returning to power under Stalin’s leadership.
He concluded by calling booth agents the “lifeblood” of the party, praising their role in grassroots mobilization, and announced that over 2 crore new members had joined the DMK, with Kolathur and Harbour constituencies leading in registrations.
