Chief Minister MK Stalin and Minister TRB Rajaa along with party and alliance candidates at a campaign rally near Kamalalayam Tank in Tiruvarur on March 31, 2026. | Photo credit: R. Vengadesh
DMK President and Chief Minister MK Stalin on Tuesday (31 March 2026) launched his campaign for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections from Tiruvarur by calling on the people of Tamil Nadu to boycott the (AIADMK-led) National Democratic Alliance and rise above political differences and support the DMK-led alliance “to protect the rights of the state”.
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“We will surpass our achievements in the Dravidan Model 2.0 government and take Tamil Nadu to greater heights. On polling day, you just have to decide whether you want an anti-Tamil, opportunistic NDA or a continuation of the successes of the DMK government,” former minister M Karunanhi “formed” his father told voters at a rally in Tiruvarur.
Slamming the BJP for denying Tamil Nadu funds and projects for Tamil Nadu, Mr. Stalin said the NDA’s only aim was to stop the development of Tamil Nadu and destroy the achievements of the DMK government.
According to him, the BJP has not done anything good for Tamil Nadu since it came to power at the Centre. No special regime was approved for the state and funds were also denied for drinking water supply programs. “Despite obstruction, we have made Tamil Nadu the No. 1 state through effective governance. When we resisted Hindi imposition, we were denied funds for education. Can we hand over the state to such a treacherous group?” he asked.
Mr. Stalin said that to protect Tamil Nadu, DMK should return to power; if the state is to continue its march on the path of development, the DMK government should continue.
“You know how opportunistic NDA is. AIADMK has given up on BJP; AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has become BJP branch secretary,” he charged.
“The NDA must be completely eradicated so that Tamil Nadu does not become a land of violence. You should understand that we are not only fighting for the victory of the DMK and its allies, but for the victory of Tamil Nadu,” argued Mr. Stalin, “as a son of the soil” and urged people to rise above political differences and support the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance in the elections.
Highlighting the main features, including “visionary schemes” for the delta region, of the “superstar” party’s election manifesto, Mr Stalin said it was not just an assurance. “We will definitely introduce them,” he said, seeking votes in support of DMK’s Poondi candidates K. Kalaivanan (Tiruvarur) and TRBRajaa (Mannargudi), CPI’s K. Marimuthu (Thiruthuraipoondi) and SDPI’s Mohammed Mubarak (Nannilam).
Earlier in the day, Mr Stalin visited his grandmother, Anjugam’s memorial at Kattur near Tiruvarur and also visited ‘Kalaignar Kottam’ in the village where he decorated a statue of former Chief Minister M Karunanidhi at the memorial.
Interestingly, the DMK president has started his election campaigns for the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 assembly elections from Tiruvarur. While he started campaigning on the outskirts of the city in 2019, his 2021 election campaign kicked off near the famous Kamalalayam tank, from where he also started campaigning on Tuesday (March 31).
Published – 01 Apr 2026 0:38 IST
