Published Sep 19, 2026 | 8:51 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 19, 2026 | 8:51 PM
DMK chief MK Stalin.
Synopsis: Criticising the ruling government, Stalin said the party in power had not secured even the seats needed for a majority, yet was creating the impression that a major political wave had swept Tamil Nadu. He alleged that the government was functioning with the support of parties that had won as part of the DMK alliance and accused the ruling party of engaging in “horse-trading” despite not trusting those supporting parties.
The “death of democracy” resulted in the upcoming Assembly by-elections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, DMK president MK Stalin said on Saturday, 19 September, urging voters to support his party and teach a lesson to the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Speaking at the DMK’s Mupperum Vizha—celebrating the birth anniversaries of Periyar EV Ramasamy and C. N. Annadurai and the founding day of the DMK, Stalin said the 6 October bypolls presented an opportunity to teach Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay a lesson over what he described as arrogance and the refusal to answer questions from the media.
He directly appealed to voters in Madurantakam and Dharapuram to vote for the DMK.
Stalin said the DMK had remained strong for more than 78 years because it had changed according to the times.
He said the party had begun organisational restructuring to strengthen it and stressed the need to adapt its communication to younger voters.
Referring to Gen Z, Stalin said the DMK should speak to young people in their language and communicate in ways that reach them through their mobile phones.
He urged party workers to reclaim Tamil Nadu. “Let us work for the party. Let us protect the movement. Let us save Tamil Nadu. Let us reclaim Tamil Nadu.”
The resignations of two AIADMK legislators necessitated the by-elections after they joined the TVK.
Also Read: MLA defections must have a price: Will Tamil Nadu voters charge it?
Stalin said the DMK had seen both victories and defeats and that ideology and principles remained more important than electoral outcomes.
Referring to the recent Assembly elections, he said the difference between the DMK and the party that won the most seats was only 17 lakh votes. He claimed that the defeat could have been avoided if the party had correctly identified its opponent and worked accordingly.
Criticising the ruling government, Stalin said the party in power had not secured even the number of seats required for a majority, yet was creating the impression that a major political wave had swept Tamil Nadu.
He alleged that the government was functioning with the support of parties that had won as part of the DMK alliance and accused the ruling party of engaging in “horse-trading” despite not trusting those supporting parties.
He was referring to the Congress, VCK, CPI(M), CPI and the IUML.
Stalin said a weak government should focus on implementing welfare schemes and earning public goodwill. Instead, he alleged that the TVK government was stopping schemes introduced during the previous DMK government or changing their names and claiming credit.
He questioned whether this could be called change. Stalin also mocked Chief Minister Vijay’s public appearances, saying the Chief Minister remained in “shooting mode” every day.
He said Vijay had earlier announced that he had stopped acting in cinema but was now appearing before people without saying who the director or cameraman was.
“First it was punch dialogues, now it is foreign shooting. Everything is reels,” Stalin said.
On the cancellation of the Parandur airport project, Stalin alleged that the decision had pushed Tamil Nadu’s development back by nearly 25 years.
He said that if the DMK government had continued, women would by now have received ₹2,000 as monthly entitlement, all families would have received an ₹8,000 household coupon and new electric motors would have been provided to 25 lakh farmers.
Stalin also attacked the government over rising prices. He questioned the prices of rice, pulses and sugar compared with four months ago and alleged that inflation reflected the government’s performance.
He said Tamil Nadu had led in economic growth under the DMK but would now become a leading state in price rises under the TVK government.
Stalin alleged that the Chief Minister was diverting public attention through the Cabinet and the media so that people would not discuss the government’s shortcomings.
He referred to media reports focusing on the Chief Minister’s clothes, including suits and traditional attire, his forehead mark, the thread on his hand and what astrologers had said.
He contrasted that coverage with earlier discussions of Tamil Nadu’s economic growth, education, investments, and welfare schemes such as Naan Mudhalvan, Pudhumai Penn, and Tamil Pudhalvan.
Stalin also attacked the government over law and order, saying that under the TVK government there was a competition between “power cuts” and “sickle cuts”.
The former chief minister alleged that murders, shootings, drug sales and sexual offences were taking place and claimed that Tamil Nadu had become a “hunting ground” for criminals.
He alleged that the TVK government had failed to maintain law and order and accused the Chief Minister of showing no concern.
On the Chief Minister’s recent foreign trip to attract investments, Stalin recalled how Vijay had previously criticised his own foreign visits when he was Chief Minister.
Stalin said that Vijay had asked whether the purpose of such trips was to bring foreign investment or invest abroad. He then said people were now asking Vijay why agreements involving companies in India were being signed in London.
He also questioned why the Chief Minister had travelled for investment promotion without the Industries Minister or Industries Secretary.
Stalin further criticised what he described as the ruling party’s focus on reels and social media.
He said even the dignity of the century-old Legislative Assembly had been affected and referred to the recent Assembly session, which was telecast live.
Also Read: MISA prisoner recalls Emergency-time jail, raps TN CM Vijay
Stalin claimed that ruling-party MLAs had asked for a screen inside the Assembly because they were concerned that they could not see the Chief Minister smiling.
He also alleged that the government could not answer questions raised by Assembly opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin and instead diverted the discussion to MISA and the Sarkaria Commission.
Responding to references to his MISA detention, Stalin said he did not need to prove his history to anyone.
He referred to the prison diary written by former DMK leader Chittibabu and the Ismail Commission report on alleged prison torture, saying these records documented his MISA history and sacrifices.
Stalin accused the ruling party of responding to questions about election promises by spreading allegations and making reels.
He said the party should be called “Tamilaga Reels Kazhagam” instead of “Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam”, adding that the DMK had provided “real governance” while the TVK was running a “reels government”.
Stalin said the DMK had faced allegations and attacks for 78 years and that political opponents had changed over the years while the party had remained firm.
He said those who considered the movement and its ideology more important than themselves were the DMK’s “udanpirappugal”.
“We are waiting to return it with interest and principal. The time will come soon,” Stalin said.
Turning to the upcoming by-elections, Stalin questioned the circumstances that had created the two vacancies.
He said by-elections generally take place after an MLA’s death. Still, in this case, elected representatives had resigned after winning from another party and were now being fielded again under the ruling party’s symbol.
He described the upcoming by-elections as elections resulting from the “death of democracy”.
Stalin said DMK cadres should take this issue, along with the alleged failures of the government, from house to house in both constituencies.
He also alleged that the government had become dysfunctional.
Referring to reports of multiple murders in a single day, Stalin listed double murders, honour killings, custodial deaths, murders linked to TASMAC disputes and killings during Vinayagar Chaturthi processions.
He alleged that people struggled during midnight power cuts, industries were affected, prices had risen beyond the reach of low-income families, and household incomes were insufficient.
Stalin also alleged that the promised ₹2,500 had not reached people and that even when people had money, they could not get Aavin milk.
He claimed that dengue and viral fever had been spreading for a month and that 12 people had died, while accusing the government of saying that action would be taken only later.
Stalin congratulated the winners of various awards constituted by the DMK.
(Edited by Majnu Babu with inputs from Subash Chandra Bose).
