DMK president and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin asserted on Saturday that the DMK-led alliance could secure victory in all 234 Assembly constituencies in Tamil Nadu, going by the enthusiastic public response.

Speaking to reporters at Iluppur in Pudukottai district, he said the public response had strengthened the alliance’s prospects. “Earlier, we aimed for 200 seats. Now, seeing the situation, particularly the energy of the people, we feel we can win all 234,” he said. Responding to a question on actors entering politics, Mr. Stalin said the DMK was not concerned about it. “No matter who comes, we are not worried. We are doing our work,” he said.

On the criticism of AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami over “the State’s poor fiscal management”, Mr. Stalin said the remarks stemmed from “fear of defeat” and did not merit serious attention. The AIADMK has been mortgaged and was being controlled by the Centre. “It is miserable to see a Dravidian party go this way,” he said. Asked about BJP leaders from outside the State campaigning in Tamil Nadu, he said that regardless of how many leaders visited, “no one can defeat the Secular Progressive Alliance led by the DMK.”

Mr. Stalin also interacted with the public during his morning walk on Iluppur Bazaar Road in the Viralimalai constituency.

‘A treacherous alliance’

Campaigning in Pudukottai, Mr. Stalin said the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), if voted to power, would push Tamil Nadu into a dark age. Canvassing votes for candidates of the DMK and its allies, he described the NDA combine as a “treacherous alliance”.

He charged that Mr. Palaniswami had no principles and was chosen as the “slave” to bring the “disastrous” NDA into the State through the backdoor.

“He can be given a doctorate for betraying Tamil Nadu’s interests by not raising his voice on key issues concerning the State. He has never stood up for the State’s rights, including in the case of the three-language formula. Did Mr. Palaniswami ever raise his voice against BJP leaders, such as Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who spoke about it?” Mr. Stalin questioned. The DMK would not allow the imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu, even if it was offered crores of rupees as funds, he asserted.

Highlighting the achievements of the DMK government over the past five years, Mr. Stalin said many of the schemes launched in Tamil Nadu were being replicated in other States. The DMK rule had lifted the State into achieving double-digit growth, the Chief Minister added.