NDA constituents don’t know who is heading the alliance, remarks T.N. CM Stalin

Taking a swipe at the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu, DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday (March 2, 2026) remarked that the constituents of the alliance were not sure as to who was heading it in the State.

Referring to the NDA’s public meeting in Madurai on Sunday (March 1), Mr. Stalin pointed out that while AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami had expressed hope that the alliance headed by his party would win, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wanted to install an “NDA government” in the State.

“The constituents do not know who is heading the alliance,” Mr. Stalin remarked at the ‘Tamil Nadu Leadership Summit – The Way Forward’ event organised by The Week in Chennai. He reiterated that the ensuing Assembly election was a “Tamil Nadu vs. NDA” contest.

“Many raised questions when I said so [Tamil Nadu vs. NDA]. But every time Prime Minister Modi and [Union] Home Minister Amit Shah visit Tamil Nadu, they only confirm what I have said,” Mr. Stalin contended. He expressed confidence that “Tamil Nadu will win in the electoral contest between Team Tamil Nadu and Team Delhi.”

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When asked about his political critics eventually joining the alliance he headed and the challenges it posed, Mr. Stalin contended: “This is not merely an arithmetic alliance but an alliance of principles.”

‘More parties to join’

Pointing out that the DMK-led alliance had fought several elections, including those to the Lok Sabha, Assembly, and local bodies, he said: “There are many more political parties that have joined the alliance now. More [political parties] are set to join. So, we do not consider this as a challenge. We are taking this forward as an alliance of shared principles.”

To another query on Mr. Modi’s reported observation at the Madurai public meeting that the DMK’s hope to remain in power would remain a mirage, Mr. Stalin said: “As for Mr. Modi, he has been dreaming of establishing a BJP government in Tamil Nadu. But it has only remained a mirage and is not what he expects it to be.”