T.N. Assembly election: DMK will disprove claim that it can’t win consecutive term, says CPI(M) leader Shanmugam

CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam said the DMK-led alliance would win the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, thereby disproving the claim that the Dravidian party is incapable of securing consecutive electoral victories and forming the government.

“I say this because the alliance is very strong. All major parties are part of it. In the past, the DMK did not take to the streets against the Union government. Now, the party has clarity on issues and is mobilising its cadres against the anti-people policies of the BJP government. The third factor is the people-oriented welfare schemes of the DMK government. There is no alternative to the present DMK alliance that can override all these factors in its favour,” he said in an interview with The Hindu.

Mr. Shanmugam dismissed the argument that the AIADMK had gained strength by bringing together estranged leaders. “It is not new strength. There is merely an attempt to mend a broken AIADMK. It is a broken pot, and the BJP is trying to fix it. There is no emotional cohesion,” he stated.

“Edappadi Palaniswami (AIADMK leader) refused to include (expelled coordinator) O. Panneerselvam. There are reports that Sasikala (former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa’s aide) is planning to launch a separate party. Even T.T.V. Dinakaran joined the alliance under certain compulsions and pressure. Can they even come together to organise Jayalalithaa’s birth anniversary celebrations?,” the CPI(M) leader asked.

He also contended there was no clarity between the BJP and the AIADMK on who would lead the alliance. “Mr. Palaniswami says the AIADMK will form the government, while the BJP says the NDA will form a coalition government. Union Minister Piyush Goyal appears to be deciding who should take the lead, while Mr. Palaniswami remains a side actor and a mute spectator,” he charged.

BJP’s actions favour DMK

Mr. Shanmugam further said the political conditions were entirely favourable to the DMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu. “One of the key reasons is the bias of the BJP-led Union government in allocating funds and granting approvals for schemes. The prevailing sentiment is strongly against the Union government, which works to the advantage of the DMK,” he said.

Reiterating that the welfare schemes of the DMK government provided an added advantage, he said the alliance had remained strong and cohesive for the past eight years. “The alliance partners have been united in conducting agitations and campaigns on issues concerning the welfare of Tamil Nadu. Taken together, these factors significantly reduce the prospects of the Opposition alliances,” he said.

CPI(M) not in favour of total prohibition

Asked about the DMK’s promise to shut down State-run TASMAC liquor shops in the past and giving it up subsequently, Mr. Shanmugam said his party did not favour total prohibition. “Drinking has been a human habit for centuries. Today, sales are regulated through TASMAC. As per our party constitution, a person with a drinking habit cannot continue as a party member. Even those advocating total prohibition have no concrete plan to implement it. Prohibition may lead to illicit brewing and sale, with bootleggers controlling entire districts,” he said.

As an alternative, he suggested reducing the number of TASMAC liquor outlets and their working hours. “Liquor is available even in Gujarat, where prohibition is in force. All States in India sell liquor. The question is: who should sell it — private contractors or the government? If liquor is banned in Tamil Nadu, people will travel to Puducherry. The issue must be approached from the perspective of rehabilitation. Prohibition will not solve all problems; it is practically impossible,” he said.

On whether TASMAC revenue should be used to fund welfare schemes, he said it remained an important source of revenue for the government, along with sand mining and registration.

“TASMAC was not started by the DMK. Both the DMK and the AIADMK have run liquor outlets. Can former Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami say he would close them if the AIADMK returns to power? Can the BJP make such a promise? Only those with no realistic chance of winning elections and forming the government promise total prohibition,” he said.

To seek two-digit no. of seats during talks with DMK

Mr. Shanmugam said the CPI(M), which has been invited for seat-sharing talks on February 26, 2026, would seek a two-digit number of seats.

“Last time, driven by the compulsion to defeat the AIADMK and the BJP, we signed the seat-sharing agreement (six seats). We were the last ally to do so. There was disappointment among our party units,” he said.