"Delivered promises we made, confident of winning polls": Tamil Nadu Deputy CM Udhayanidhi Stalin
Chennai, March 22
Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday exuded confidence in the alliance's victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.
Udhayanidhi Stalin said that the ruling DMK government has delivered the promises it made.
Stalin told reporters, "We are very confident about winning the elections. We have delivered the promises that we made. We have been on the ground meeting the public."
Earlier today, he attended the ticket allocation interview of his constituency with Chief Minister and father MK Stalin at the DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam.
Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4. The current tenure of the 234-member state assembly ends on May 10.
Meanwhile, DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan said the party will finalise its candidates before the nomination process begins on March 30 for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. He added that the party is meeting applicants and will complete seat-sharing talks with its allies in time for the polls.
Elangovan told ANI, "We are meeting this evening. Our leader is meeting all the candidates who have applied for seats. The nomination process starts on the 30th of this month. We still have more than a week's time. Before the 30th, we will settle everything, because we must announce it before that. The process begins on the 30th and continues until the 5th, so we have plenty of time."
In another development in the run-up to the polls, Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi president T Velmurugan announced that his party is exiting the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led alliance, asserting political independence and rejecting what he described as a "big brother attitude."
The polls in Tamil Nadu are a contest between the ruling DMK-led alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA. Actor-turned-politician Vijay has also thrown a hat in the ring by launching Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
— ANI
Reader Comments
As a Chennai resident, I've seen some positive changes in infrastructure. The metro expansion is noticeable. But confidence about 2026 is too early! A lot can change in two years. The alliance break-up with TVK is not a good sign. 🤔
The "big brother attitude" comment from Velmurugan hits the nail on the head. Smaller allies always feel sidelined. DMK needs to work on that if they want a strong front. Also, Vijay's entry adds a wild card. Interesting times for TN politics!
My family has benefited from the Rs. 1000 monthly assistance for women. It's a direct help. If they have delivered on key promises, they deserve another chance. But the candidate selection process must be clean and based on merit, not just loyalty.
Watching from abroad, the stability in Tamil Nadu's governance is commendable compared to some other states. The focus on social welfare schemes seems to be working. But the real test will be economic growth and job creation for the youth.
Meeting the public is one thing, solving their problems is another. The delay in flood management projects in Coimbatore is a major issue. Hope the confidence translates to faster action on pending works. All the best to all parties, may the best vision win! 🙏
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.