Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly criticized the Narendra Modi-led NDA government for allegedly infringing upon the rights of states and pushing the ‘One Nation, One Election’ proposal. In a statement on Friday, Stalin called for the unity of democratic forces to safeguard the self-respect of states.
Stalin, in a letter to his party cadre, also highlighted the success of the Vaikkom centenary celebration and the inauguration of the Periyar memorial in Kerala, which he attended alongside Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Stalin used this event as a platform to reiterate his opposition to the central government’s actions. He remarked, “For those who try to rule by dividing the people and belittling the states, the idea of Periyar, equality, social justice, and the Dravidian model, which unites all of this, causes irritation. Their vengefulness manifests.”
The Chief Minister pointed to the Cabinet’s approval for the ‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill on the same day as the Vaikkom centenary celebrations in Kerala. He recalled Tamil Nadu’s Assembly resolution, dated February 14, 2024, which rejected the simultaneous election proposal as impractical and undemocratic.
Stalin further quoted Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, who, during the Vaikkom celebration, emphasized the importance of protecting the self-respect of states. Stalin urged all democratic forces to unite and follow in the footsteps of Periyar, who fought for the self-respect of the Dravidian community. He stressed that this unity is crucial to ensure that the dignity and autonomy of states are preserved in the face of centralizing forces.