DMK has betrayed mandate given by people of Tamil Nadu in 2021, says Modi

K. Palaniswami rejected Chief Minister MK Stalin’s claim that the upcoming Assembly elections are a fight between Tamil Nadu and Delhi. Mr. Palaniswami said he had forgotten that elections were about who should or should not rule the State.

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran and BJP State president Nainar Nagenthra

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, accused the DMK of betraying the mandate given by the people of Tamil Nadu in 2021 instead of looking at it as a responsibility.

“In DMK rule, everything begins and ends with a family. Ministers and MLAs may change, but power remains in the hands of only one dynasty. DMK is famous for its scientific pattern of corruption; today the same model is being used to serve a family,” Mr. Modi said while addressing a public meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tiruchi.

“A Minister from this very district is involved in a cash-for-job scam. When jobs are sold for money, the dreams of young people are dashed,” Mr. Modi said in an oblique reference to allegations of corruption in appointments leveled by the Enforcement Directorate against Municipal Administration Minister KN Nehru. “Just as all rivers flow into the sea, all the money goes to one family,” he claimed.

Taking a critical view on the law and order situation in the state, especially crimes against women, Mr. Modi said that the NDA, if voted to power, will maintain good law and order and ensure that people, especially women, live without fear.

“During the DMK government, violent crimes against women have become common. Recently, everyone has seen the horrific news that a DMK member did not even spare a little girl. Today, criminals are roaming around carelessly harming women. I promise you that NDA will ensure that women in Tamil Nadu can live without fear. It will be the criminals, not the public, who will live in fear,” he said.

Mr Modi also accused the DMK of not fulfilling its 2021 election promises, including increasing the minimum support price for paddy. “Farmers in the delta region deserved fair prices for their produce, good facilities and modern storage warehouses. DMK promised warehouses, but today farmers are looking for them,” he said.

“Illegal sand mining is destroying rivers and threatening the environment. But those responsible for this continue to enjoy protection,” he added.

Mr. Modi said the NDA has big plans for the progress of Tamil Nadu. “We have made the State a part of the rare earth corridor. We have proposed the Bengaluru-Chennai and Chennai-Hyderabad high-speed rail corridors. Such projects can take the State to the next level of growth in terms of connectivity and production. But these projects need a government that puts people’s interests above politics. Only NDA can give such a government,” he said.

The upcoming Assembly election will be the most important in the history of Tamil Nadu, he said, noting that the people of the State have to choose between corruption, dynastic politics and broken promises on the one hand, and development, opportunities and an honest government on the other.

Asserting that he has full faith in the vision of the people of the state, Mr. Modi said Tamil Nadu wants change and the people know that only NDA can bring about this change. “I can clearly feel the pulse of the state. Just like the Cauvery River flows with unstoppable force in the Tamil month of Aadi, the desire for change is also gaining great momentum,” he said.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami rejected Chief Minister MK Stalin’s claim that the upcoming Assembly elections are a fight between Tamil Nadu and Delhi. Mr. Palaniswami said he had forgotten that elections were about who should or should not rule the State.

PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran and BJP State president Nainar Nagenthran also spoke.

It was published – 11 March 2026 22:40 IST