Tamil Nadu can never be painted in saffron, says CM Stalin

CM Stalin asserts Tamil Nadu will never fall under BJP rule, emphasizing the DMK's commitment to the state's culture and development.

Asserting that the “saffron brigade” will never be able to paint Tamil Nadu in saffron, DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin threw the gauntlet at the BJP, saying it would never be able to rule the State even if it came wearing the mask of the AIADMK.

“They can paint any State in saffron, but not Tamil Nadu,” he said, addressing a mammoth gathering at the 12th State conference of the party at Siruganur on the outskirts of Tiruchi on Monday (March 9, 2026).

Explaining the reason for his assertion that the 2026 Assembly election was a fight between Tamil Nadu and Delhi, Mr. Stalin said the people of the State know the DMK is the only movement which has the strength to oppose the true enemies of Tamil Nadu, the Tamil language, and its culture. “You cannot deceive the people by wearing the mask of the AIADMK. We will expose you,” he said.

“The saffron brigade wants to swallow Tamil Nadu somehow. But it will never happen as long as the red and black army [the DMK] is here. They know this. That’s why they are trying to slowly swallow the AIADMK. The BJP is trying to destroy the AIADMK completely as in Bihar where it is trying to install a BJP Chief Minister by side-lining Nitish Kumar after winning the election. They are trying to do this in Tamil Nadu too. But I challenge them — the BJP can never rule the State, whatever mask you may wear or agencies you threaten us with,” he said.

“In 2021, I outlined a seven-point vision for the development of Tamil Nadu. I can proudly say that I have achieved the goals through various schemes implemented in the last five years. Despite various crises and problems, we have grown,” Mr. Stalin said

Comparing the development parameters during the previous AIAMDK  government and the current government, Mr. Stalin said that during 2016-21, only 471 MoUs were signed for industrial investment. But, under the present government, 1,190 MoUs were signed. During the previous government, Tamil Nadu attracted only ₹4,13,414 crore worth of investments. But, in the last five years, the State had attracted ₹12,54,133 crore in investments.