TRICHY: DMK president and former Chief Minister M K Stalin stated that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) won the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections by leveraging Instagram and involving children in campaigning among their family members. He asserted that the DMK continues to rule the state as long as its welfare schemes remain in force.
Stalin's Remarks at Family Event
Stalin made these comments while attending a family event of Tiruvarur MLA “Poondi” K Kalaivanan in Thanjavur on Monday. He took a dig at TVK, led by C Joseph Vijay, without naming the party directly, noting that it did not meet voters, hold conferences, or appoint booth and counting agents like the DMK did. Despite this, he said it was not wrong that they (TVK) still won the election.
“They used social media, especially Instagram, and made children campaign for them. They employed a strategy of getting children to convince their fathers, mothers, grandfathers, and grandmothers to vote for them,” he said.
Admission and Vigilance Call
Admitting that the DMK’s predictions of victory had not materialised, Stalin said, “Hereafter, we should be vigilant and thwart such strategies.” He recalled urging the new government to continue the welfare schemes implemented by his previous DMK government. He claimed that the TVK government was implementing those very schemes and said, “That is why I say we (DMK) are still in power.”
Recalling his election campaign speech in which he had said that nobody could change the achievements made for women and students, Stalin said, “As long as the schemes continue, the Dravidian Model government will continue.”
No Dejection, Committee Formed
Stalin said he was neither distraught nor dejected by the electoral loss. He announced that a committee had been formed to examine the reasons for the defeat. “Starting from today, the committee will inspect each constituency, identify the shortcomings, and analyse the reasons,” he added. He also highlighted that party workers and the public can register their feedback on the party’s website.
He urged DMK cadres not to feel dejected, stating that the party would remain strong as long as its welfare schemes continued. “We will return to power. We should work with that hope,” he said.
Grievance and Opposition Role
Stalin said, “My only grievance is that if we had got an extension, we would have done even more work.” He added that the DMK would now fulfil its duty as the Opposition by organising protests and demonstrations. He added that DMK’s opponents believe the party’s story is over, but said its history shows that whenever it has faced defeat, it has always risen again like a phoenix.
Social Media Post and Warning
Following his speech, Stalin posted on X (formerly Twitter), reiterating that the DMK would not be a hindrance to the TVK government in carrying out its administration. However, Stalin warned that if TVK attacked the DMK with slander to hide its incompetence, his party would respond with clarification. “I appeal to fellow cadres to counter falsehoods if they are spread on social media,” he said.
