Exclusive Interview/ M.K. Stalin, chief minister, Tamil Nadu
The M.K. Stalin-led DMK government recently entered its fifth year in office. After taking charge at the height of the Covid Delta wave in 2021, Stalin has made steady progress with noteworthy initiatives. Under the branding “Dravidian Model”, the government has rolled out a series of welfare schemes. These include the free bus ride scheme for women, which has more than 64 lakh beneficiaries daily, the Rs1,000 monthly cash dole for women with 1.06 crore beneficiaries, the monthly cash dole for college-going girls—the Pudhumai Penn scheme—and the corresponding scheme for boys (Tamil Pudhalvan), both Rs1,000, benefiting 4.06 lakh and 3.81 lakh students, respectively, and the Naan Mudhalvan scheme to support men and women who want to pursue professional courses.
Tamil Nadu’s economy has grown steadily, too. Exports have nearly doubled, from $26.15 billion in 2020-21 to $52.07 billion in 2024-25; fiscal deficit, which was 4.91 per cent of the GSDP in 2020-21, is expected to drop to around 3 per cent in the current fiscal. And, the GSDP growth (constant prices) is 9.69 per cent, as per state finance ministry data.
On the flip side, the state has seen a few high-profile murder cases and several raids and searches by Central agencies, alleging DMK corruption. However, despite these troubles, Stalin has emerged as the face of the opposition at the national level. He has been the loudest voice against the formula of the upcoming delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies. He fought a legal battle against the Tamil Nadu governor for sitting on bills passed by the state and got a favourable Supreme Court verdict. After President Droupadi Murmu, through presidential reference to the court, asked if the judiciary can impose timelines on governors and the president, Stalin urged opposition chief ministers to oppose the presidential reference and unite for a legal battle. His regime continues to oppose the Centre’s National Education Policy, citing Hindi imposition, and is preparing for another legal battle after the Centre withheld Rs2,152 crore due to the state under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, for not implementing NEP.
In an exclusive interview, Stalin tells THE WEEK about his opposition to the Centre, his fight for state autonomy and his welfare schemes.
Edited excerpts:
Q. What is your opinion about Prime Minister Narendra Modi?
A. He is a person who is much aware of the intricacies of politics. Though he recalls the couplets from Thirukkural in his speeches, his movement and ideology have shown discrimination against the Tamils and Tamil Nadu. So Tamils and Tamil Nadu are continuously ignoring Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Q. You and your party strongly criticised the prime minister for saying that welfare schemes are revdi (freebies). Why do you think he is wrong?
A. Those who criticise these schemes by calling it freebies and belittle it, are not really concerned about the people. The schemes of the Dravidian Model regime are not only social welfare schemes, but also social development schemes. That is why the prime minister’s BJP has, in its manifestos, promised schemes (like those) implemented by the Dravidian Model government. Prime Minister Modi himself is a follower of the DMK’s schemes.
Q. There is criticism that public funds are squandered on welfare schemes.
A. Spending for social welfare schemes is not as bad as giving a higher percentage of the share to other states from the tax money paid by Tamil Nadu [during tax devolution].
Q. Do you think the women’s welfare schemes introduced by your government, like free bus ride for women and the monthly cash dole, are really necessary? What about men?
A. Women being independent and self reliant is exactly what the Dravidian Model is. Women always calculate and do things perfectly, be it at a job or in running a small business. Bus fare was one of the economic constraints for women being self reliant. The free bus ride scheme was implemented because I realised this. If you educate a woman, the family gets knowledge. Revolutionary poet Bharathidasan, through his ‘Irunda veedu’, tried to create awareness about the education of women. Kalaignar (former chief minister M. Karunanidhi) implemented this during his regime. Now, the Dravidian Model has paved the way for women getting education, skill development and employment opportunities. These opportunities are available for men also. But the percentage of women getting opportunities is low compared with men. So, more attention is paid to the progress of women.
Q. How do you think you can manage Tamil Nadu’s financial situation now? The Centre is refusing to allot funds. How are you going to fight this?
A. We have been informing and talking to the people about the biased approach of the Union government. We are trying to find a solution through legal means. We strongly believe in Tamil Nadu’s economic growth. We are resolved to fight and ensure rights of the Tamils against discrimination and injustice.
Q. In March, you got all the state’s political parties together to speak for the state’s rights. The BJP says that you played politics using it.
A. It has been usual practice in Tamil Nadu to stay united to raise our voice in defence of linguistic and federal rights. Even though there has been a setback in this because of political reasons, I would like to express my gratitude to every political party for coming together and passing resolutions unanimously that Lok Sabha seats of Tamil Nadu should not be reduced through delimitation. The BJP has always been against the thoughts and ideologies of the Tamil people and Tamil Nadu. Therefore, the BJP always remains isolated from the people. Those who join hands with the BJP today for their self interest should be very careful.
Q. What do you think about the AIADMK general secretary E.K. Palaniswami?
A. I have always given him due respect as an opposition leader.
Q. Going back to what you said about linguistic and federal rights, the DMK has a history of fighting for rights. What is the difference between the fight for rights during Emergency and the fight for federal rights now?
A. The DMK, then under Kalaignar, fought for freedom of expression and freedom of the press. Now we are fighting for linguistic freedom and federal rights. It was the DMK that first protested for the true federalist philosophy and took it forward. Even now, the DMK is taking it forward.
Q. Would you compare the situation now, under BJP rule, to Emergency?
A. The MISA (Maintenance of Internal Security Act) days were a declared Emergency. The Narendra Modi regime is an undeclared “Emergency”.
Q. You say that the BJP and its followers are trying to destroy federalism.
A. The Constitution says India is a Union of states. Those who act without respecting it are unscrupulous forces who want to divide India and the idea of federalism.
Q. Your critics call you a dynast.
A. I am not concerned about their criticism. There is a lot of pride in the fact that I come from a noble ideological lineage and that the people of Tamil Nadu have recognised me and made me the chief minister. I take pride in saying this.
Q. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi calls you brother. Why and how do you think he grew so close to you?
A. My beloved brother Rahul Gandhi has a clear political understanding. He values the diversity of India as a Union of states and respects ethnicities. The DMK has always emphasised this. And, this ideological idea makes the brotherhood among us bloom. He is the most capable, trustworthy leader in India. Time will definitely give him a high place in politics.
Q. What is your answer to those who call you anti-Hindu?
A. Hindus consider me their sibling. People of all communities shower their love on me. It is during the DMK regime that Hindu temples are being revived more. People vote for the DMK only because we respect the beliefs of the Hindu devotees.
Q. One key criticism against your government within Tamil Nadu is the functioning of the TASMAC shops and the law and order situation.
A. As far as law and order is concerned, state data shows that the crime rate in Tamil Nadu has decreased compared with the rate during the previous administration. And when it comes to TASMAC, we are continuously reducing the number of retail shops selling liquor.