Published Apr 21, 2026 | 11:18 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 21, 2026 | 11:18 AM
DMK chief MK Stalin.
Synopsis: On the last day for the campaigning for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister MK Stalin made a final appeal to the voters in the state to vote for the DMK. Stalin said the DMK government has brought several schemes that benefited several sections of people. The chief minister also slammed the Opposition AIADMK and its chief Edappadi K Palaniswami for allying with the BJP.
With the public campaigning for the 23 April Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu ending on Tuesday, 21 April, Chief Minister MK Stalin made a final appeal to the voters in the state to vote for the DMK, saying growth with social justice is the party’s primary goal.
He said that in the last five years, he has fought against the Union government, which always tries to deceive Tamil Nadu, and stood up for the Tamil people.
Stalin added that the DMK government has also brought several schemes that benefited several sections of people.
“From maternity assistance for pregnant women, women’s entitlement assistance, free bus travel for women, hostels for women, doorstep healthcare, we have brought many schemes that benefit everyone from a child in the womb to elderly citizens,” he said.
The chief minister also slammed the Opposition AIADMK and its chief Edappadi K Palaniswami for allying with the BJP, which, according to him, is working against the minority communities.
“In states ruled by the BJP, which is the owner of the subservient party AIADMK, they enter churches on Christmas day and create violence, and demolish the houses of Muslim people using bulldozers. Despite knowing all this, Palaniswami is lying at their feet. But if there is any issue for minority communities, we will always stand in the field and fight for their rights,” he said.
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The chief minister recalled that, during the 2021 elections, some people said he was more dangerous than M Karunanidhi, adding that it was a matter of pride for him.
“When they said I am more dangerous than such a leader, only one thing came to my mind. For those who think of deceiving Tamil Nadu and those who try to stop our growth, I will always be dangerous. If I am one step above leader Kalaignar in that, it is a matter of pride for me. Because all this runs in the blood of Tamils,” he said.
Stalin said Tamil Nadu tops in every sector, including industry, agriculture, and education.
“As a mark of that, after 14 years, Tamil Nadu’s economic growth has reached 11.19 percent, touching a double-digit figure that no state has achieved. I am confident we will reach even greater heights,” he said.
He further highlighted the importance of education.
“Education is the only asset no one can steal from you. That is why we have brought so many schemes focused on education in this government, like the breakfast scheme in schools, laptops for college students, a monthly assistance of Rs. 1,000 for students who studied in government schools, and the ‘Naan Mudhalvan’ scheme,” he said.
He also acknowledged the shortcomings of his government. “Even though we have progressed in every way, I am aware that there are a few shortcomings. Because I am someone who listens carefully to criticism and feedback about our government. Even in some of the things pointed out as shortcomings, when compared to other states, we are performing very well. Still, we have already implemented all possible measures to correct those shortcomings. We will see the results very soon.”
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The DMK chief claimed that the recent delimitation Bill, which was defeated in the Lok Sabha, was brought to punish the best-performing states like Tamil Nadu.
“All of you know, last week the Union government brought a Bill on constituency delimitation. It seemed like it was brought to punish us, the best-performing state in controlling population and industrial growth. But the moment that Bill came… the first protest and the burning of its copy began on our Tamil soil through me. The fire we lit has now spread and reduced that Bill to ashes.”
“If they are trying to deceive us with such arrogance, even during an election, I need not explain to you what will happen here if their supporter Edappadi Palaniswami wins this election and comes to power,” he said.
He further said that the anti-people policies and false campaigns of the BJP would not succeed in Tamil Nadu.
“However they come, however many times they try, as long as DMK exists, the BJP and its cruel, anti-people ideology have not succeeded in Tamil Nadu. If history says that, that alone is enough. That alone is enough. Those who think of destroying our rights, our hard work, our people’s culture, and our language, or their followers, are not needed for us,” Stalin said.
“Communal forces like the BJP are carrying out a false campaign that the DMK is anti-Hindu. DMK has never been anti-Hindu. It is under our government that consecration ceremonies have been conducted in thousands of temples. Temple lands worth ₹7,000 crore have been retrieved. To those spreading such false propaganda, I will say only one thing… Tamil Nadu, ruled by Dravidian parties for 60 years, has the highest number of temples in India.”
“In the 1970s, when the then Union government waged a battle through MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act), I was one of those who fought against it. At that time, I was a young man, Kalaignar’s son. Today, I am in the position of a father. Even now, I stand against the battles waged against us. Whatever problem comes, I will stand protecting Tamil Nadu and Tamils. This is my pledge,” he added.
