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Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the AIADMK and its alliance with the BJP, asserting that the opposition party had fully surrendered to the saffron party and that no leader, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, could rule Tamil Nadu.

Addressing the DMK’s general council meeting in Madurai, Stalin said, “No (Amit) Shah can rule Tamil Nadu.” The DMK president accused Leader of Opposition and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami of attempting to bring the entire state under the BJP’s control. According to news agency PTI, he alleged that Palaniswami was “desperate” to fulfil this goal, which is why Shah “visits Tamil Nadu often.”

Stalin urged party cadre to alert the public about the possible consequences if the BJP-led alliance were to come to power in the state. “They would stoke religion and caste-based communal violence and divide people in all manner,” he warned. “They will not allow children to get educated, there will be no industrial growth, they will destroy Tamil Nadu’s unique characteristics by imposing Hindi and by way of cultural imposition.”

Without naming actor-politician Vijay, Stalin remarked, “They too must be given a fitting reply.”

He dismissed earlier speculation ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections about a rift between the AIADMK and BJP, stating, “Stories like snapping of ties between AIADMK and BJP were spun ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. However, the DMK-led alliance did not break up. As a result, Palaniswami has surrendered again to the BJP by visiting Amit Shah in March 2025 in Delhi.”

Stalin pointed out that it was Shah, not Palaniswami, who announced the BJP-AIADMK alliance, saying, “Only those who lead the alliance in the state usually announce the alliance. However, here, Amit Shah announced it. This showed that the AIADMK has fully gone under the control of the BJP.”

'Sun Is Permanent, Likewise DMK Is Permanent': Stalin Want Party Govt To Be 'Permanent Feature'

Highlighting the party’s historic connection with Madurai, Stalin said the city was “a land of sacrifice” for the DMK and its leaders, including late party patriarch M Karunanidhi and former mayor Muthu. He recalled his own grassroots contributions, stating he hoisted party flags when Pon Muthuramalingam served as district secretary.

“This is the seventh time our general council meeting is being held in Madurai since the party’s founding in 1949,” Stalin said, expressing confidence that this meeting would “pave the way for the party to form the government for the seventh time” after the 2026 Assembly polls, due by April-May next year.

Stalin underscored the importance of humility in leadership, affirming, “I will never be arrogant,” and added that his faith in party workers assured him of a decisive victory in the upcoming election, PTI reported.

Calling the DMK a permanent force, Stalin said, “The sun is permanent. Similarly, the DMK is permanent.” He called on party workers to “make the party-led regime a permanent feature,” adding, “We can create it. You can do that. We can do that.”

He acknowledged that the DMK never enjoyed favourable media coverage, regardless of whether it was in power or opposition, but insisted, “The wave of support for DMK is more than the wave of opposition. Some are trying to hide it; divert it.”

Despite obstacles from the office of the Governor and “economic and political challenges” posed by the BJP-led Union government, Stalin said his administration had elevated Tamil Nadu’s growth, claiming the state topped Indian rankings in terms of development.

He warned party cadres of “defamatory content and lies under the guise of opinion polls” and urged them to stay ahead of rivals. “If they try to set a narrative, we have to be one step ahead of them. Our truths should reach the people well before their lies.”

Stalin Says He’ll Personally Monition New Membership Enrolment Initiative

Highlighting the strength of the DMK’s alliance, Stalin emphasised the need for continued dialogue and mutual respect among partners. He stressed party unity, appointment of young members to new party wings, and grassroots mobilisation through membership drives and booth-level micromanagement.

“I will personally monitor the new membership enrolment initiative,” he said, adding that he would hold constituency-wise meetings with functionaries from the first week of June and engage in one-on-one interactions, as per PTI.

The general council meeting also adopted resolutions, including one to observe the birth anniversary of late DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi (3 June) as Classical Language Day. The party resolved to “drive away the AIADMK and BJP” and immediately begin groundwork to retain power in 2026.