Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin Criticizes PM Modi Over Alleged 'Betrayals' as NDA Launches Campaign
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin launched a sharp critique on Friday against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), asserting that the poll-bound state is enduring the consequences of what he termed as the Union government's repeated 'betrayals'. The chief minister's pointed remarks came in response to Prime Minister Modi's social media post, where he declared that the people of Tamil Nadu have resolved to oust the 'corrupt' DMK government in the upcoming Assembly elections.
PM Modi's Campaign Kick-off and Social Media Assertions
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Maduranthakam near Chennai to inaugurate the NDA's election campaign in Tamil Nadu. In a post on the social media platform X, PM Modi expressed confidence in the NDA's prospects, stating that the alliance's governance track record and dedication to regional aspirations are resonating strongly with the state's populace.
"Tamil Nadu is with NDA. I’ll be joining NDA leaders at the rally in Maduranthakam later today. Tamil Nadu has decided that it’s time to bid farewell to the corrupt DMK government. The NDA’s governance record and commitment to regional aspirations are striking a chord with the people of the state," the Prime Minister articulated in his post.
Stalin's Counterattack and Allegations of Electoral Opportunism
In a swift rebuttal, Chief Minister MK Stalin lambasted the Prime Minister, accusing him of visiting Tamil Nadu solely during election seasons while neglecting the state's pressing concerns. "Tamil Nadu counts the betrayals of NDA. Prime Minister Modi comes to Tamil Nadu only when the election season comes…," the CM asserted in his own post on X.
Stalin posed a series of pointed questions to the Prime Minister, demanding clarity on several unresolved issues:
- When will Tamil Nadu receive the overdue ₹3,458 crore Samagra Shiksha education fund?
- When will the assurance that Tamil Nadu's constituencies will not be reduced in the delimitation exercise be formally announced?
- When will the 'anarchy' perpetrated by the Governor, whom Stalin described as acting as a BJP agent, be addressed?
- When will Tamil-specific financial allocations from the Centre to promote the Tamil language be made?
- When will the rural employment scheme MGNREGA be fully restored in the state?
- When will the AIIMS project in Madurai and other pending initiatives receive the necessary financial allocations?
Political Stakes and Campaign Dynamics
Chief Minister Stalin emphatically declared, "Tamil Nadu will always defeat the BJP alliance that continues to commit only betrayals." This statement underscores the escalating political tensions as the state gears up for a fiercely contested Assembly election.
The NDA's campaign launch in Maduranthakam is set to feature prominent alliance leaders, including AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, who is a major constituent of the coalition. Prime Minister Modi is anticipated to set the tone for a high-intensity campaign aimed at challenging the ruling DMK administration in Tamil Nadu.
This exchange highlights the deepening political rift between the DMK-led state government and the BJP-led central government, with both sides positioning themselves ahead of the crucial electoral battle. The allegations of unfulfilled promises and financial delays are likely to dominate the discourse as the campaign progresses.
