Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin on Thursday (April 16, 2026) alleged that the BJP would divide Tamil Nadu on the lines of Jammu & Kashmir if the party was given a chance to gain a foothold in the State and the AIADMK-led alliance was elected to power.

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Addressing an election rally at Kunnam to seek votes for the DMK Assembly election candidates in Perambalur and Ariyalur districts, Mr. Stalin said the BJP had been making efforts to gain a foothold in the State in alliance with the AIADMK. The BJP had a number of plans similar to the Delimitation Bill. The national party would resort to unleash anarchy through the rule of Lieutenant Governors similar to the Union Territory of Puducherry. Hence, if the AIADMK was given a chance to come back to power, the BJP would remove the statehood of Tamil Nadu.

Terming the Delimitation Bill a dangerous move, Mr. Stalin said he had been opposing the move for more than a year. It was an attempt to reduce the number of Parliamentary seats to the Southern States, which had done well on population control. It was against the interest of Tamil Nadu as well. The DMK would wage an all-out battle against the Bill.

Launching a scathing attack on AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s soft approach on the issue, Mr. Stalin said many Chief Ministers and Opposition leaders had strongly opposed the Delimitation Bill. But Mr. Palaniswami, “who had no backbone to oppose the BJP,” had simply toed its line on the important issue, thereby upsetting the people of the State. The people were angry with him.

According to Mr. Stalin, earlier poll surveys had predicted the DMK alliance would win 180 seats. But the recent surveys had indicated it would cross 200. The stand of Mr. Palaniswami on the Delimitation Bill had increased the prospects of DMK alliance winning all 234 seats in the State, he added.