Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President, M.K. Stalin, launched a sharp critique against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, accusing it of deliberately attempting to create religious fissures in the state. He asserted that the long-standing communal harmony in Tamil Nadu profoundly "irritates" the national ruling party.
Accusations of Divisive Politics and a United Front
Addressing a government function, Stalin pointed to specific examples of Tamil Nadu's syncretic culture to underscore his point. He noted that devotees of Lord Muruga traditionally bow to the flag of the Thirupparankundram Dargah, and Muslim communities offer rose milk to Hindus during the famed Madurai Chittirai festival. These practices, he implied, symbolize the social fabric the BJP aims to tear.
The Chief Minister slammed the BJP over alleged attacks on Christians and their places of worship in other parts of India, warning that the party seeks to replicate such incidents in Tamil Nadu. He issued a strong rebuttal, stating, "No matter how many slaves they gather and perform somersaults, they cannot incite religious frenzy among the people of Tamil Nadu who are united." The DMK has previously used the term "slave" to criticise the AIADMK for its alliance with the BJP and recently extended the label to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
The Dravidian Model vs. The "BJP's India"
Stalin presented a stark contrast between the governance models of his party and the BJP. He positioned the Dravidian Model government as a bastion against hatred. "As long as this Stalin is here, as long as our Dravidian Model government is here, there is no room for your politics of religious hatred here," he declared.
Comparing his administration with the previous AIADMK regime, which ruled from 2011 to 2021, Stalin claimed Tamil Nadu faced ruin during that decade. He threw an open challenge to his rivals, asking if they had achieved even five percent of what the current DMK government has accomplished in terms of state progress.
He further delineated two Indias: one under the Dravidian Model representing a "developed, prosperous India," and another in BJP-ruled states, which he described as "an India of poverty, religious violence, mob lynchings, attempts to ruin education, and unemployment." This, he alleged, is the true face of "BJP's India."
Confidence Ahead of the 2026 Assembly Polls
Expressing unwavering confidence, Stalin stated that the people's verdict in the 2026 Assembly elections would serve as the ultimate endorsement of his government's work and a reality check for political opponents. He framed the upcoming poll as the "crowning glory" of the Dravidian Model's achievements.
The Chief Minister's combative speech sets a clear political agenda, firmly positioning the DMK as the sole protector of Tamil Nadu's unique social harmony and developmental ethos against what he portrays as the BJP's divisive and failing politics.
