BJP’s formula of breaking parties to form government won’t work in Tamil Nadu: Stalin tells Amit Shah

BJP’s formula of breaking parties to form government won’t work in Tamil Nadu: Stalin to Amit Shah

Posing a direct challenge to BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin on Friday (April 18, 2025) asserted that Tamil Nadu would never submit to Delhi’s administration. “Your formula of breaking political parties in other States, threatening them by conducting raids, and then forming the government will not work here in Tamil Nadu,” Mr. Stalin said.

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During a government function at Ponneri in Tiruvallur district, Mr. Stalin recalled Mr. Shah’s remarks that the AIADMK-BJP alliance would form the government in Tamil Nadu in 2026, and said: “I challenge him [Mr. Shah]. Tamil Nadu will never submit to Delhi’s administration. We are unique.” Reiterating that the DMK’s Dravidian model of governance would emerge victorious in 2026, Mr. Stalin emphasised: “Our Tamil Nadu will always remain out of control for Delhi.”

In an apparent reference to the AIADMK-BJP alliance, Mr. Stalin said: “You, who threatened and forced some people here to form an alliance [with you], think you can win? Bring all your parivaars here — let us see who wins! [Look at] how you’ve been insulting Tamils!” He further recalled the remarks about Tamils made by Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Shobha Karandlaje, who apologised eventually.

“What [Mr. Shah] did you say in Odisha? You and the Prime Minister [Narendra Modi] claimed in Odisha that the Tamils had stolen the keys of the sanctum sanctorum of the Puri Jagannathar temple. Only because a Tamil IAS officer was with the Odisha CM, you resorted to a divide and rule policy. You cannot do that here [in Tamil Nadu],” Mr. Stalin maintained.

Mr. Shah was planning to rule Tamil Nadu by forging an alliance with “a group of slaves from a traitor alliance with no sense of self-respect and Tamil pride,” Mr. Stalin charged, and added: “Please do flip through the pages of history. This Tamil land is filled with self-respect and valour, and it has never allowed imperialism and encroachments.”

“We are aware as to how you will use the [law enforcement] agencies to threaten us before the elections within a year; even the people are aware. We are not slaves to submit to this bullying. Be it Amit Shah or any Shah, you cannot rule over us. This is Tamil Nadu. As long as this Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin is here, your plan will not materialise,” Mr. Stalin asserted.