DMK Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin Intensifies Attack on BJP During Tamil Nadu Campaign
Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Udhayanidhi Stalin, launched a fierce political offensive against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, labeling it a "significant threat" to the state's rights and autonomy. Campaigning vigorously across the Madurai and Theni districts, he framed the upcoming assembly election as a decisive battle to protect Tamil Nadu's interests from what he described as central government overreach.
Symbolic Protest and Allegations Over Parliamentary Representation
In a dramatic display of dissent, Udhayanidhi Stalin publicly burned a copy of the Delimitation Bill in Madurai, accusing the Union government of a calculated attempt to diminish Tamil Nadu's voice in Parliament. He and other DMK candidates appeared at the event dressed in black, symbolizing protest and mourning for what they perceive as an assault on state rights.
"The BJP-led Centre is rushing this bill to snatch away the rights of Tamils," he asserted, urging the public to oppose measures he claimed would suppress the state's political influence. According to his statements, Tamil Nadu currently holds 39 Lok Sabha constituencies, but a fair delimitation process should ideally increase this number to 59. Instead, he alleged, the central government aims to cap it at 47, resulting in a potential loss of 12 seats—a move he framed as detrimental to Tamil representation.
Campaign Focus on Local Issues and BJP's Electoral Struggles
During his campaign stops, Udhayanidhi Stalin rallied support for DMK candidates, including sitting minister P Moorthy in Madurai East and G Thalapathy in Madurai North. He pointed to the repeated electoral failures of "Sanghi" elements—a term often used to refer to BJP and RSS affiliates—in gaining a foothold in Madurai, attributing this to consistent public rejection.
He also highlighted local grievances, notably flagging the prolonged delay in the proposed AIIMS hospital in Madurai. "It has been 11 years since the foundation stone was laid, but there has been no progress," he lamented, using the issue to criticize the central government's commitment to Tamil Nadu's development.
Expanding the Campaign to Theni District
Later in the day, Udhayanidhi Stalin extended his campaign to the Theni district, where he campaigned in the Andipatti and Bodinayakanur constituencies. There, he voiced support for DMK candidates, including sitting MLA A Maharajan and former chief minister O Paneerselvam, reinforcing the party's grassroots outreach ahead of the elections.
His remarks underscored a broader narrative of resistance against what he portrayed as BJP's encroachment on state sovereignty, with the delimitation issue serving as a central rallying point. The campaign events emphasized a united DMK front, with black attire symbolizing solidarity and defiance in the face of perceived threats from the ruling party at the Centre.
