‘There is only one Sun, one Moon, and one DMK’

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said certain people, unaware of the DMK’s history, are trying to intimidate the party, and some others, ignorant of the truth, are daydreaming about replicating the party’s successes.

“We did not come to power simply by announcing, ‘We started a party, and I will be the next Chief Minister.’ From the top leaders of the DMK to the last grassroots worker, everyone has toiled tirelessly. To secure wins like the DMK, one needs the hard work and intellect of the DMK,” he said, speaking at an event organised at Valluvar Kottam by the party’s youth wing to mark 75 years of the DMK.

“There is only one Sun, one Moon, and one DMK! Another movement like this can never emerge on this soil,” Mr. Stalin said. “The principles we speak of — social justice, self-respect, State autonomy, and federalism — have now spread throughout India. Some are angry, saying, ‘We tried to confine them to Tamil Nadu, but now they are influencing the entire nation,’” he said.

“Since they cannot defeat the DMK ideologically, they are trying to defeat us through shortcuts via the Election Commission of India (ECI). That is what the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is all about,” Mr. Stalin said.

“Why should the SIR be conducted in such haste? When all political parties have opposed it, saying that it will create confusion close to the elections, why proceed with it? Ignoring all these concerns, the Election Commission has started the SIR work. We are fighting against this both legally and politically, and we will continue to fight,” he said.

He requested the youth wing members working on the ground to ensure that no fake voters are included and make sure that real voters are not left out. “Ensure that no one’s right to vote is taken away! You must work at the field level,” Mr. Stalin said.