Stalin rebuts AIADMK’s charge of decline in DMK’s reputation, says we will win 2026 Assembly polls also

Chennai, Oct 23 (Representative) Asserting that the ruling DMK, which had been winning all the elections duringthe last five years, including the Assembly, Lok Sabha, Local Bodies and Assembly polls, Tamil Nadu Chief and DMK President M K Stalin said it will also win the 2026 Assembly elections, while refuting main Opposition AIADMK’s charge that the DMK’s reputation among the people has declined. Speaking after distributing Rs 146.56 crore welfare assistance to more than 16,000 beneficiariesat a function in Namakkal district on Tuesday evening, the Chief Minister said the DMK regime hasbeen working for the people’s welfare and was winning all the elections during the last five yearswith the overwhelming support of the people. In fact, the DMK-led alliance had secured more votes in 222 of the 234 Assembly segments in therecent Lok Sabha polls, he said, citing the party’s constituency wise performance in the elections. Citing various pioneering initiatives launched by the DMK’s Dravidian model governance, includingfree bus travel for women, Rs 1,000 assistance per month for women household heads under the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme, Chief Minister’s breakfast scheme for school students, Rs 1,000 monthly assistance under the Pudumai Penn scheme and improving the skills of the students under the Naan Mudhalvan scheme, which has brought smiles on the faces of people, including women and students, Mr Stalin refuted Leader of the Opposition and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami’s oft-repeated claim that the DMK’s reputation among the people has waned.

Mr Stalin wondered whether the Opposition leader is living in this world or in a dream world andsaid people were mocking at his claim that DMK’s reputation has declined.”I am not bothered about it and not prepared to spend any time on it”, he added. Assuring that the DMK will continue to work for the welfare of the people and win the 2026 Assembly polls too, the Chief Minister accused Mr Palaniswami of surrendering the State during the previous AIADMK regime to safeguard his power. “Because of that not only your reputation, your party’s reputation has also declined among the people and you should realise this”. On AIADMK’s contention that the Western Region was their fortress, Mr Stalin sought to knowwhat happened to it now as it was has been negated in the recent Lok Sabha polls, which theDMK-led Front swept winning all the 39 seats in the State. “We are not bothered by those who were ignored and sidelined by the people”, he added.Pointing out that the DMK government was not only implementing welfare schemes for the people, but was also focusing on industrial development, he cited a recent survey that pegged the State’s industrial growth at 10.69%, which is much higher than that of the country. He also said that he would be inspecting all the developmental works in all the districts from next month to ensure that they were completed on time. Earlier, Mr. Stalin unveiled the statue of former Chief Minister and DMK Patriarch M.Karunanidhi in Namakkal and paid floral tributes to his portrait.