Trichy (Tamil Nadu), March 9 In a scathing attack on the BJP, ruling DMK president and Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday alleged that a "saffron group" wanted to "dominate" the southern state, but asserted his party would not allow it.
Addressing a mega party conference here, he also took on his rival, AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami, accusing him of becoming a "tool" of the BJP in order to become Chief Minister.
Further, with Bihar CM Nitish Kumar set to step down, he said that the state had never had a BJP Chief Minister, and that after winning polls by showcasing the JD (U) veteran, "they have sidelined him".
A "saffron group," an obvious reference to the BJP, wants to "control" Tamil Nadu. The DMK will not allow it, the CM asserted.
To gain control of the state, the BJP was gradually "co-opting" AIADMK, he alleged.
He claimed that the NDA would have "no space" in Tamil Nadu and asserted that he would continue to rule the state as long as the DMK government's welfare initiatives lasted.
"There will always be no space for the NDA in Tamil Nadu, no space for the NDA's 'dabba' (dysfunctional engine) in the state... as long as the welfare schemes we have implemented continue, Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin will rule Tamil Nadu," he said.
The upcoming Assembly election will see the DMK expose the BJP by "removing the AIADMK facade" that it is wearing.
"Can people not identify the BJP if the AIADMK facade is used," the Chief Minister asked, hitting back at rivals TVK and AIADMK over his 'TN vs NDA and TN vs Delhi' slogan for the Assembly polls.
He lashed out at the Centre for allegedly denying funds due for the state.
Listing out the numerous initiatives of his government, he said that 5.40 lakh male students were provided a monthly assistance of Rs 1,000 under the 'Tamil Puthalvan Thittam', while a similar aid was being extended to 6.95 lakh women student beneficiaries of 'Puthumai Penn Thittam'. As many as 19.34 lakh children benefited through the CM breakfast scheme.
Also, Stalin listed the monthly grant of Rs 1,000 to 1.31 crore women as among the numerous achievements of his five year-old rule.
He said that during the 2016-21 AIADMK regime, only 471 MoUs were signed but in the DMK's tenure, about 1,190 MoUs were inked.
"The 7 goals outlined in the run up to the 2021 polls, in Trichy, have been achieved. We have a legacy, we named the state as Tamil Nadu. We are assembled here to take a vow for the DMK to rule forever," he said.
Trichy was synonymous with a turning point and a big win for the party he said, and used a cricket analogy to emphasise that not only the opening runs but also the boundaries made at the close of the game mattered in securing a victory.
So also the DMK would ensure a resounding win in the 2026 Assembly polls, he said, and added that he lived for the people and the party workers.
Turning to the party members he said "tell people, polls are all about TN vs NDA, 2026 polls is all about who is going to win.. for the Tamil Nadu team to emerge victorious request people to vote for the DMK and its allies," he said.
"This is the message you must take to the people during the next two months," Stalin added.
The DMK cadres should work hard for the candidates of alliance parties as well. "Our strength is not only our achievements and ideology, but also the alliance; this will be the fourth election the alliance is going to face together and that is also a big strength...our victory is TN's victory."
DMK leads the 21-party Secular Progressive Alliance, whose constituents include the Congress, Left parties and VCK.
The next five years of Dravidian model rule will surpass the current DMK regime in terms of its achievements, he said and expressed confidence that the party will assume office for the seventh time following win in the polls.
"The BJP's tricks will not work in Tamil Nadu as it will only be us here, only we will win in our soil, we alone will win...even if you perform somersault, use any mask, use any Central agency, TN will always be out of your reach," Stalin said.