Support for DMK has increased compared to 2021

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin has asserted that support for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has grown in the current 2026 Assembly election compared to the party’s performance in 2021. Speaking at a party event in Kanchipuram district, Stalin urged cadre and booth-level workers to intensify their election campaign, saying the electorate’s backing for the DMK is stronger and more widespread than five years ago. Stalin highlighted that the DMK’s organisational structure and grassroots presence are key strengths that differentiate the party from its rivals. He stressed that Chennai and northern Tamil Nadu remain strongholds for the DMK and outlined ambitious targets to maximise vote counts across all 234 constituencies, projecting a substantial increase in voter support compared with the last assembly polls. According to Stalin, the party’s strategic mobilisation at the booth level and focused outreach can translate this growing support into electoral success in the upcoming polls. The DMK’s claims of increased backing come amid a highly competitive political environment in Tamil Nadu, where rival parties such as the AIADMK and BJP are intensifying their campaigns. While the DMK insists on its strengthened position, critics have questioned its track record and raised concerns about unmet poll promises. Nonetheless, Stalin’s comments reflect the party leadership’s confidence ahead of the 2026 elections. Meanwhile, speaking at the Tamil Nadu Roundtable organised by India Today, Stalin dismissed speculation of any rift in the alliance and expressed confidence that the DMK would improve on its 2021 performance. “The DMK will form its own government,” he said, adding that the question of sharing power with the Congress “does not arise now.” In the 2021 Assembly elections, the DMK won 133 of the 234 seats and formed the government independently. The Congress, which contested as part of the alliance, secured 18 seats but was not given representation in the State Cabinet. However, recent statements from Congress leaders have fuelled discussion over power sharing.