NDA governments will be formed in both Tamil Nadu and Bengal in 2026, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said while addressing party workers in Madurai on Sunday. This marks the BJP's sharpened focus on the southern state as it prepares for the assembly elections next year.
"Though I reside in Delhi, my ears are always tuned to Tamil Nadu," Shah said. "The Chief Minister says, 'Amit Shah cannot defeat the DMK.' Stalin Ji, you are right - I cannot defeat the DMK. But the people of Tamil Nadu can."
He added that, as someone who has campaigned across the country, he knows the pulse of the public. "And this time, the people of Tamil Nadu will uproot the DMK government," he said.
This is the senior BJP leader's second visit to the state in two months. The first was on April 11, when he was in Chennai to announce the expansion of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) by bringing in the AIADMK.
The BJP's former national president further alleged that the DMK has been a "100% failed government" that has not fulfilled even 60% of its manifesto promises.
He said the DMK government in Tamil Nadu "has crossed all limits of corruption" and went on to mention the TASMAC liquor scam, which alone amounts to ₹39,000 crore.
"This amount could have built two new classrooms in every primary school in every village of Tamil Nadu," he said.
He added that he had one request for the BJP's mandal workers: No one has the right to rest until the DMK government is removed from Tamil Nadu.
He also reiterated his demand for the Tamil Nadu government to offer medical and engineering courses in Tamil.
"Why does the DMK government not offer medical and engineering education in Tamil?" he asked.
Shah began his speech by apologising for not being able to speak Tamil. "I sincerely apologise to all the karyakartas of Tamil Nadu for not being able to speak to you in Tamil - one of the greatest languages of India," he said.
Shah's remarks about Tamil come amid a language dispute with the MK Stalin-led state government, which has accused the Centre of Hindi imposition through the proposed three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP). The NEP issue sparked an intense row between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government in March this year.
Shah also brought up how Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed respect for Tamil Nadu by installing the Sengol in Parliament but had yet to receive a word of thanks from CM Stalin.
"Though I reside in Delhi, my ears are always tuned to Tamil Nadu," Shah said. "The Chief Minister says, 'Amit Shah cannot defeat the DMK.' Stalin Ji, you are right - I cannot defeat the DMK. But the people of Tamil Nadu can."
He added that, as someone who has campaigned across the country, he knows the pulse of the public. "And this time, the people of Tamil Nadu will uproot the DMK government," he said.
This is the senior BJP leader's second visit to the state in two months. The first was on April 11, when he was in Chennai to announce the expansion of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) by bringing in the AIADMK.
The BJP's former national president further alleged that the DMK has been a "100% failed government" that has not fulfilled even 60% of its manifesto promises.
He said the DMK government in Tamil Nadu "has crossed all limits of corruption" and went on to mention the TASMAC liquor scam, which alone amounts to ₹39,000 crore.
"This amount could have built two new classrooms in every primary school in every village of Tamil Nadu," he said.
He added that he had one request for the BJP's mandal workers: No one has the right to rest until the DMK government is removed from Tamil Nadu.
He also reiterated his demand for the Tamil Nadu government to offer medical and engineering courses in Tamil.
"Why does the DMK government not offer medical and engineering education in Tamil?" he asked.
Shah began his speech by apologising for not being able to speak Tamil. "I sincerely apologise to all the karyakartas of Tamil Nadu for not being able to speak to you in Tamil - one of the greatest languages of India," he said.
Shah's remarks about Tamil come amid a language dispute with the MK Stalin-led state government, which has accused the Centre of Hindi imposition through the proposed three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP). The NEP issue sparked an intense row between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government in March this year.
Shah also brought up how Prime Minister Narendra Modi showed respect for Tamil Nadu by installing the Sengol in Parliament but had yet to receive a word of thanks from CM Stalin.
