Modi's Tamil Nadu Campaign Opens with Scathing Attack on DMK Government
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the National Democratic Alliance's assembly election campaign in Tamil Nadu on Friday, delivering a blistering speech that sharply criticized the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Addressing a massive crowd in Chennai, Modi framed the upcoming electoral battle as a decisive referendum on governance, accusing the DMK of corruption, family rule, deteriorating law and order, and disrespect toward the judiciary.
A Symbolic Gathering and Urgent Call for Change
Standing before a sea of nearly 45,000 chairs, with organizers claiming attendance swelled past one lakh, Modi described the moment as both symbolic and urgent. He began by invoking the festive Pongal mood and the birth anniversary of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, stating, "This is my first trip to 2026, a period after Pongal when people have a special happiness. Let me offer my prayers to the memories of Netaji from this land of fighters." Gesturing toward the ground, he added, "Friends, this is a floodgate of people I can see on this ground. It also sends a strong message to everyone that Tamil Nadu is ready for a change."
Accusations of Corruption and Governance Failures
Throughout his speech, Modi repeatedly emphasized that the DMK government had exhausted its mandate, contrasting it with the NDA's promise of stability and growth. He declared, "You gave DMK an opportunity to rule, but they have caused enough trouble already. Now the DMK govt is called CMC govt – Corruption, Mafia, Crime. It is a government working for the crime mafia. People have come to a decision to wipe them from this state."
Modi accused the state administration of failing on law and order, alleging it pandered to criminals. "DMK govt has pledged our youth into the hands of the drug mafia," he said, adding that women no longer felt safe and promising that "an NDA govt will ensure your safety." He also described the DMK as a party functioning "for a single family," where advancement depended on "family," "corruption," or "insulting our culture."
Contrasting Central and State Governance
The Prime Minister sought to highlight the achievements of the BJP-led government at the Centre, contrasting it with the earlier Congress-DMK era. He claimed, "Before 2014, when DMK-Congress ruled Delhi, a very small amount was allocated for Tamil Nadu. And what the BJP government had sent to Tamil Nadu thereafter was three times higher than what the UPA gave for this state."
He cited numerous development projects as evidence of the benefits of a "double engine" government, including railway station upgrades, Vande Bharat trains, toilets, houses, and drinking water connections. "In Tamil Nadu, BJP-NDA double-engine government formation has been confirmed now," he asserted confidently.
Historic Alliance of Former Rivals
The rally also served as a carefully orchestrated display of unity among an otherwise fractious opposition. Sharing the dais were Edappadi K Palaniswami, the AIADMK general secretary; BJP's K Annamalai; PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss; and a long list of regional allies. However, the most closely watched figure was TTV Dhinakaran, leader of the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), who recently returned to the NDA fold.
For the first time since his expulsion from the AIADMK in 2017, Dhinakaran shared a stage with Palaniswami – a pairing that once seemed politically unthinkable. If there was any underlying tension, it remained hidden from public view. Dhinakaran adopted an unexpectedly conciliatory tone, crediting both Modi and Palaniswami for bringing factions together. "To put an end to the family dynasty," he said, aligning his rhetoric with the Prime Minister's. "We have come here accepting the leadership of both PM Modi and AIADMK chief Palaniswami."
Reconciliation and Shared Goals
Acknowledging past disagreements, Dhinakaran added, "It is a fact that there were disagreements between us (with the Palaniswami-led official AIADMK faction). But for the welfare of Tamil Nadu and AIADMK, we accepted the invitation of PM Modi to unite here, to not miss an opportunity that we lost in 2021." He invoked the legacy of the late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, stating, "We are followers of Amma… We belonged to the same family… Forgetting all differences, we have decided to join hands here to bring a people's government."
This language of family, reunion, and necessity suggested a notable shift toward reconciliation rather than rivalry, especially from a leader who had long resisted any arrangement projecting Palaniswami as the alliance's face. In turn, Palaniswami sharpened the attack on the DMK, accusing it of being solely engaged in corruption and promoting family members like Udhayanidhi Stalin to the Deputy CM post merely due to birthright.
DMK's Counterattack and State Demands
Ahead of the rally, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin asserted that Tamil Nadu would "always pose setbacks" to the NDA, which he claimed had "continuously betrayed" the state. Stalin accused Modi of visiting Tamil Nadu only during election seasons and posed several pointed questions:
- When will Tamil Nadu receive its Rs 3,458 crore due under the Samagra Shiksha program?
- When will the AIIMS Madurai project materialize?
- What assurances can be given on constituency delimitation, NEET exemption, disaster relief, and infrastructure projects?
Stalin also criticized the NDA's governance, questioning when the burdens passed to the state under schemes like VB-GRAM would end. This exchange sets the stage for a fiercely contested election, with both sides presenting starkly different visions for Tamil Nadu's future.
