Tiruchirappalli: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Wednesday framed the upcoming Assembly election as a contest between the state and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance, asserting that Tamil Nadu’s autonomy and Dravidian model of governance were at stake.

“This election is Tamil Nadu versus the NDA. Tamil Nadu must be governed from Fort St. George, not from Delhi. The upcoming Assembly election will decide this. The BJP seeks to suppress and weaken Tamil Nadu in every way, because in the list of developed states, the BJP is never present. Where the BJP is in power, there is no development,” Stalin said while addressing a public meeting here.

He alleged that divisive politics were being promoted in several BJP-ruled states and claimed that Tamil Nadu stood for social harmony.

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“Kanyakumari district is a place where people of all religions live together in unity. Recently, during Christmas, attacks on Christians took place across India. In Maharashtra, reservations for backward classes and Muslims have been cancelled. Manipur is still burning. The situation in Assam is even worse; the Chief Minister of that state openly spreads hatred against Muslims,” he said.

Referring to remarks by Bihar’s Deputy Chief Minister on meat shops near schools, Stalin said, “In Bihar, the Deputy Chief Minister has said that meat shops near schools will be removed. Who are they to decide what we should eat? They are trying hard to create such a situation in Tamil Nadu as well. But under our Dravidian Model government, religious harmony and unity are being preserved. In Tamil Nadu, minorities live in safety, the majority live in brotherhood, and everyone is treated equally.”

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The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly is due for elections later this year. In the 2021 polls, the DMK won 133 seats, leading the Secular Progressive Alliance to power, while the AIADMK secured 66.

The NDA, led in the state by the AIADMK and the BJP, is seeking to unseat the ruling DMK-Congress alliance. The contest is expected to be triangular with actor-turned-politician Vijay entering the fray through his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

Electoral roll finalised

Meanwhile, the Election Commission of India has published the final electoral rolls for Tamil Nadu following the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2026 exercise.

According to official data, the state has a total electorate of 5,67,07,380, including 2,77,38,925 male voters, 2,89,60,838 female voters and 7,617 third gender voters.

With alliances taking shape and new political entrants emerging, Stalin’s remarks signal the DMK’s attempt to frame the poll narrative around federalism, social justice and opposition to the BJP-led Centre.