Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin for Indian Muslim League (IUML) candidate SSBSayed Farook in Vaniyambadi constituency of Tirupattur district on Wednesday. | Photo credit: VENKATACHALAPATHY C
Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on Wednesday said the ruling DMK has always protected the interests of minorities and other marginalized sections in Tamil Nadu.
Addressing the party cadre and residents of Ambur Assembly constituency to get votes for incumbent DMK MLA AC Vilvanathan in the election campaign for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Mr. Udhayanidhi said that DMK President and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin had vehemently opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) when the Act 2019 was passed by Parliament on the contrary. MK. Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami supported the bill, which could affect a section of minorities in the country, after pressure from the BJP,” he said.
The Deputy Chief Minister listed a number of initiatives taken by the DMK-led government in Tamil Nadu since 2021 when the party came to power. Among them, he said, the state government has provided around ₹10 crore to subsidiary Haj pilgrims. Recently, Mr. Stalin laid the foundation stone of a ₹40 crore government accommodation facility in Chennai for Haj pilgrims. The new facility will be inaugurated by Mr. Stalin himself when he returns to power in a few months, he said.
Reacting strongly to Mr Palaniswami’s experience in politics during his election campaign, Mr Udhayanidhi said: “He has the merit of having the experience of promising the rights of Tamil Nadu to the BJP-led center in New Delhi. On the contrary, the DMK stands shoulder to shoulder with the people to protect the rights of the state.”
Mr. Udhayanidhi assured voters that the existing welfare schemes would be strengthened during the Dravidian Model 2.0 government by implementing the DMK’s poll promises. Mr. Udhayanidhi also campaigned for the party’s candidates in Tirupattur, Vaniyambadi, Anaicut, Katpadi and Vellore assembly constituencies in which sitting Katpadi MLA and Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan along with Vellore MP DM Kathir Anand participated.
Published – 02 Apr 2026 05:30 IST
