DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Sunday charged the AIADMK with having “surrendered” Tamil Nadu’s autonomy during its previous rule by supporting the Centre’s policies such as the NEET and the UDAY scheme. He accused AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami of “betraying” the people of Tamil Nadu by aligning with the BJP.

In a letter to his party cadre, Mr. Stalin alleged that the BJP-led government at the Centre allocated meagre funding to Tamil, the first language in India to be recognised as a Classical Language, while allocating several crores of rupees for Sanskrit. “Through the National Education Policy, 2020, the Centre attempts to impose Hindi. The scientifically established cultural glory of Tamils, based on the findings of the Keeladi excavation, is being deliberately withheld by the Union Government,” he said.

Mr. Stalin urged the cadre to honour the legacy of DMK patriarch and former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi by participating in a tribute rally on August 7, the latter’s death anniversary, towards his memorial at Marina beach in Chennai and to pledge their commitment to securing victory in the 2026 Assembly election.

Recalling Karunanidhi’s initiatives for the uplift of the poor and society as a whole, he said: “Carrying forward his legacy, our Dravidian Model government has implemented schemes such as the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thittam, Naan Mudhalvan, Pudhumai Penn, Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam, and Innuyir Kappom. Several States across the country have followed our initiative.”