Tiruchi Siva. File | Photo Credit: SHIV KUMAR PUSHPAKAR DMK MP Tiruchi N. Siva stressed that the upcoming Assembly election in Tamil Nadu is crucial and different from the previous ones, “as it is not merely an election for power, but is also a battle of ideologies.” He made these remarks while addressing a meeting elaborating on the achievements of the ‘Dravidian model’ government in Nagercoil on Sunday (January 11, 2026). Stating that the ideals brought forth by the Dravidian movement, such as equality, social justice, and the removal of economic discrimination, were now being challenged, he said: “Those with opposing ideologies are trying to enter [the State] with the support of others. Preventing them from entering is not just the duty of the DMK; it is the responsibility of all Tamils.” He further observed, “The changes and growth we see in Tamil Nadu began only after the black and red flag began flying. There was a time when Tamil Nadu was backward in all aspects. It ranked in the 29th place in the industrial sector. But, today, it has risen to second place in all of India because of the Dravidian model government.” Mr. Siva noted that the capable governance of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and the manner in which he implements various schemes have transformed the situation. He alleged that the Union government is crushing secularism and attempting to disrupt the principle of unity in diversity across the country. “Despite their efforts, nothing has succeeded in Tamil Nadu, and the reason is Chief Minister M.K. Stalin,” he added. Nagercoil Corporation Mayor R. Mahesh, Tamil Nadu Food Commission Chairperson N. Suresh Rajan, and other party members were present. Published – January 12, 2026 04:35 pm IST Share this: Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Threads (Opens in new window) Threads Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email More Click to print (Opens in new window) Print Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket Click to share on Mastodon (Opens in new window) Mastodon Click to share on Nextdoor (Opens in new window) Nextdoor Click to share on Bluesky (Opens in new window) Bluesky Like this:Like Loading... Post navigation Modi’s initiatives shaping direction of India’s youth: BJP president Nitin Nabin Budget 2026: Education experts urge government to prioritise quality, infrastructure