- 4 hours ago
In this special show on assembly elections, we break down for you the big players of Tamil Nadu, what's at stake, and what makes this election so interesting.
Category
đź—ž
NewsTranscript
00:00Hello and welcome. Vanakkam, you're joining us on the special broadcast here on India Today.
00:05I'm Akshita Nanda Gopal and yes, we're putting the spotlight on the Indian Political League in Tamil Nadu.
00:10We'll be breaking down for you the next 30 minutes, the big players, what's at stake and what makes this
00:16election so interesting.
00:18We'll begin with the big political player, Chief Minister Muthuvel Karnanadi Stalin.
00:24His rise in Tamil Nadu politics has been unlike any other.
00:28Yes, he's a dentist, but someone who's had to rise in the ranks, courtesy his father,
00:33ensuring that he was someone who was deeply rooted in politics and got no favours by being the son of
00:39a veteran,
00:40by being the son of a Chief Minister.
00:42But for Stalin, what's at stake this time?
00:45Can he do what even his father couldn't do, of breaking the seesaw trend in Tamil Nadu
00:50and therefore setting a new record by ensuring that he can be a Chief Minister in the state
00:56for a second consecutive term?
00:58That is the challenge for N.K. Stalin this time.
01:11He carved his own path to power, a journey spanning 50 years.
01:18Continuing his father M. Karnanadi's legacy, it took 25 years of patience, strategy and perseverance
01:26for M. K. Stalin to become Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
01:32Born Ayyadurai, just days after birth, his father renamed him Stalin.
01:39Inspired by the Soviet dictator, from the very beginning, politics came first.
01:54Just 23, during Indira Gandhi's emergency, Stalin was arrested under MISA and beaten in custody.
02:10He wasn't a pampered prince.
02:12He earned his place on the ground.
02:15By 30, he became Youth Wing Secretary and stayed there for 34 years.
02:21There, he built a loyal army of party workers,
02:24who saw him not as the boss's son, but as their own leader.
02:36His first major rival was Vaiko, a fiery orator and Karnanidhi's protégé.
02:43While Vaiko inspired crowds with speeches,
02:46Stalin quietly strengthened his influence behind the scenes.
02:50Vaiko was expelled for forming the MDM key,
02:53but only to later return as an ally.
02:57Stalin had learned early,
03:00in politics, there are no permanent enemies.
03:06His next challenger was family.
03:09His elder brother, M. K. Alagiri.
03:12A strongman of Madurai,
03:14Stalin built power through organization.
03:17While Alagiri relied on force,
03:20tensions reached a boiling point.
03:22when a survey named Stalin,
03:24Karnanidhi's successor.
03:28Alagiri's supporters burned down a newspaper office
03:32and killed three.
03:36Stalin did not fight back.
03:38He waited,
03:39built alliances,
03:41strengthened his networks.
03:42And by 2014,
03:44Alagiri was expelled.
03:46The first family member removed without splitting the party.
03:52Stalin's control over DMK was complete.
03:57After becoming working president in 2017,
04:01Stalin took full leadership following Karnanidhi's death in 2018.
04:10After earlier electoral setbacks,
04:13he took oath as chief minister in April 2021.
04:22The first time in Tamil Nadu
04:24that a leader directly succeeded his father at the top post.
04:31He positioned himself as a protector of Tamil identity,
04:35opposed alleged central overreach in NEET,
04:39and Hindi imposition.
04:41A message that resonated far beyond Tamil Nadu.
04:50As chief minister,
04:52Stalin launched the Dravidian model,
04:55free breakfasts for school children,
04:57home-delivered health care,
05:00scholarships for government students,
05:02and systematic reforms.
05:04But it wasn't just policy.
05:07It was governance by design,
05:09consulting experts,
05:11listening to MLAs,
05:13and solving long-pending issues.
05:16Stalin turned leadership
05:17into strategy and action.
05:24Karnanidhi once said,
05:26Stalin means work.
05:27Work and only work.
05:30And that is him.
05:32Not a prince,
05:33not a revolutionary,
05:35but a master strategist
05:37and political architect.
05:39Despite being called a dinist,
05:41he earned his rank as the party soldier,
05:44building his base,
05:46step-by-step,
05:48inside the DMK.
05:50Karnanidhi,
05:51Karnanidhi,
05:51Karnanidhi,
05:53Karnanidhi,
05:55Karnanidhi,
05:55Karnanidhi,
05:56Karnanidhi,
05:56if you have to take our leader,
05:58Karnanidhi,
05:59it was his hard work,
06:01persistence,
06:02and continuous work.
06:03And the same advice,
06:04I am giving to my son also,
06:07the Deputy Chief,
06:08Mr. Dr. Mullah.
06:09He says that he has learned hard work
06:11from his father,
06:12which he wants to cultivate
06:14to his son.
06:15Stalin has almost made sure the helm of DMK will be in hands of his chosen successor, son Udayaniti.
06:25Thus ensuring the legacy he inherited continues smoothly into the future.
06:32With Simran Saroa, Bureau Report, India Today.
06:44Two Dravidian giants. We've spoken of MK Stalin. The other in the picture is Edapadi Pardiswamy, standing in the political
06:51space that was once dominated by Jai Jai Lalita, Amma of Tamil Nadu.
06:56The question of leadership in the AIA DMK has remained crucial ever since her passing.
07:01It was Edapadi Pardiswamy who stepped up, steadily positioned himself as the bearer of Amma's legacy.
07:07But this election is crucial for him. It's do or die, many say, for his political legacy and what happens
07:13to the AIA DMK.
07:26Standing at a space once dominated by Jai Jai Lalita and the question of leadership in AIA DMK has remained
07:34crucial ever since her passing.
07:36And in the recent times, Edapadi K. Pardiswamy has positioned steadily himself, not as a replacement, but rather bearer of
07:44the Amma's legacy.
07:46For decades, Amma defined the identity of the AIA DMK.
07:51A charismatic leader with a welfare-driven governance model.
07:57Her demise in 2016 left behind not just a party, but a legacy waiting to be carried forward.
08:06In this uncertain phase emerged EPS.
08:12A grassroots leader from Salem who rose through the party ranks.
08:18In 2017, he took oath as CM during one of the most turbulent times in the party's history.
08:29As CM, EPS focused on governance, pushing infrastructure projects, expanding road networks and continuing Amma's welfare schemes.
08:40His approach emphasised stability, continuity.
08:46From infrastructure push and the welfare continuity, Palani Swamy's governance model has largely followed the template set by Amma.
08:53But the real challenge has been political, to keep the party together and retaining the public trust.
09:01Symbolism became central to EPS's leadership.
09:05Amma canteens, subsidised schemes and welfare programmes continued under her name.
09:12Reinforcing her enduring presence in Tamil Nadu politics.
09:19But the road was far from smooth.
09:22Internal conflicts, particularly with Opanir Selvam, threatened to split the party.
09:29Yet EPS gradually emerged as the dominant force within the AIA-DNK.
09:35In elections, EPS transitioned from a consensus leader to a central campaign figure.
09:42Focusing on governance, stability and regional pride.
09:48This comparison continues to define EPS's political journey.
09:54For supporters, he represents continuity.
09:59For critics, he still operates in Amma's shadow.
10:06Jail Elitha perfected the art of aligning with Delhi without losing control in Tamil Nadu.
10:12Backing Vajpayee when it suited her and maintaining a calibrated equation with Modi later.
10:21EPS appears to be following the same playbook.
10:24After Amma's demise and a fractured AIA-DNK, EPS leaned on the BJP for stability, legitimacy and electoral relevance.
10:37The alliance gives him access to central backing and a national platform.
10:43But like Jail Elitha, he has tried to keep the relationship transactional, not submissive.
10:50The difference, however, is stark.
10:53While Amma dictated terms from a position of strength, EPS operates in a weaker, divided party.
11:00And in a state, wary of the BJP.
11:06The strategy may be familiar, but the power equation has changed.
11:11Raising the question, is EPS reviving Amma's model or adapting it for survival?
11:19Today, EPS stands as the principal phase of the AIA-DNK.
11:24Leading the party through a phase of transition and redefining its identity.
11:30As Tamil Nadu's political landscape continues to evolve, the legacy of Amma remains central.
11:38And Eda Party by Nisamy's leadership will be measured by how effectively he carries it into the future.
11:45Polinist Swami's rise reflects a dynamic change in Tamil Nadu politics.
11:49From a charisma-driven leadership to organization control and to governance.
11:54Whether EPS can truly inherit Amma's legacy as a Masapir leader
11:58and now he has established himself firmly as a leader within the AIA-DNK.
12:03With Pramod Madhav, Anakha Keshav and Apoorwa Jayachandran from Chennai,
12:09Bureau Report, India Today.
12:14And the new entrant, Vijay, superstar, now taking on a new avatar.
12:20He's dominated the silver screen for 30 years and now is stepping into a real-world role of a politician.
12:28There's ambition, there's determination, there is a connect with the people that goes beyond cinema.
12:33But can he click with the masses?
12:35And two days from now, it will be the day when people decide his fate.
12:57Back in 2018, Tamil Nadu's biggest superstar walked onto a movie screen.
13:08And played a man who decided enough is enough.
13:12It's time to take on the Sarkar.
13:22The film was called Sarkar.
13:27And the people went absolutely wild.
13:46Fast forward to today.
13:49And life is imitating art in the most extraordinary way.
13:53Parambur, Si Josef Vijay, Terichi Keik, Si Josef Vijay.
14:30For three decades, Vijay, born as Joseph Vijay Chandra Shekhar, has been nothing short
14:37of a phenomenon in Tamil cinema.
14:45He grew up in a home where cinema was not just a profession.
14:52And in these 30-plus years, Vijay has acted in at least 69 films and has delivered blockbusters
15:01like Gilly, Tupaki, Mursal and Master.
15:07Vijay is regarded as one of contemporary South Indian cinema's biggest stars, popularly
15:13referred to as Talapati, which means commander by fans.
15:20In 2021, Vijay's fan club successfully contested local body elections in Tamil Nadu for the
15:27very first time.
15:28The organization 115 of the 169 seats it contested, a quiet but clear signal that the fanbase
15:38could translate into votes and could even compel an Abhineta to turn into full-time Neta.
15:47In February 2024, Vijay formally announced the formation of his political party, Tamiragavet
15:55Trikaraga, declaring it would contest the 2026 elections.
16:01During his party's first major conference in 2024, Vijay declared the BJP as his party's ideological
16:09opponent, and the DMK as its political adversary.
16:32The man who once played heroes on screen was now picking real enemies.
16:38And conference after conference, Vijay sharpened his attacks on CMMK Stalin and the ruling DMK.
16:50But just like a cinematic twist, on September 27th, 2025, everything changed.
16:58Thousands of men, women and children gathered in Karoor district, hoping to catch a glimpse
17:05of Vijay.
17:06As excitement peaked, overcrowding, poor crowd control and confusion led to a deadly stampede,
17:15resulting in 41 deaths.
17:22Cops then blamed the TVK's leadership for the tragedy.
17:27After four days of silence, Vijay reappeared to apologize, but also to blame the Stalin government,
17:36alleging attempts to sabotage TVK's growth.
17:42Vijay sought a CBI inquiry himself and faced the investigators fiercely.
17:49And just when Vijay thought it was the end, and all the political drama was over, his film
17:56began Jananayagan, a triumphant cinematic goodbye before a full-time political career came in the eye of the storm.
18:11But Vijay seems to be unstoppable.
18:13In a high-stakes political gamble, he has decided to contest from not one, but two constituencies,
18:22Perambur and Trichy East, both DMK bastions.
18:27I am coming.
18:32From whistles on the silver screen to a whistle-poured moment in politics.
18:38Can he deliver a blockbuster and rise like a real Jananayagan here?
18:48Vidasta Bharadwaj, Bureau Report, India Today.
18:56And besides the three political giants in this election, let's talk about the national parties.
19:03For the BJP, Tamil Nadu isn't just another state.
19:06It's the final missing piece of the puzzle.
19:08They have been trying for long to conquer Tamil Nadu.
19:12Saffron Party hasn't really managed to dominate state elections so far.
19:16The BJP this time is contesting along with the AIADMK.
19:21So they're playing second fiddle to the AIADMK in the NDA.
19:37Over 240 MPs in the Lok Sabha, with chief ministers across 14 states and union territories.
19:43Nearly 12 years in power at the centre.
19:48India's political landscape in 2026 is dominated by one party, the Bharatya Janata Party.
19:59But one state continues to evade it, Tamil Nadu.
20:03In a state dominated by Dravidian politics, the BJP has contested elections mostly in alliances,
20:09relying on regional parties to boost their presence.
20:14This strategy, however, is yet to pay dividends.
20:18In 2014, Modi Mania had gripped the entire country.
20:21And they had made their presence felt in Tamil Nadu as well.
20:25Contesting on nine seats as part of the NDA, the BJP won one seat.
20:29Not a performance to pride upon, but one to give hope.
20:32But that push could not be translated in the 2016 assembly elections.
20:36They contested on all 234 seats alone and the verdict, zero.
20:41Then came 2019.
20:43At the peak of its national dominance, winning 303 seats, the BJP drew a blank in Tamil Nadu.
20:49Contesting five seats with the AIADMK, it failed to open its account.
20:53Their political fortunes, however, improved in the 2021 assembly polls.
20:58Four wins in 20, joint best-ever performance in the state.
21:02But in the 2024 elections, it was back to square one.
21:06Failing to win in all 23 seats they fought for, even though their vote share went up by more than
21:117.5%.
21:14So why does Tamil Nadu remain out of reach for the BJP?
21:18The answer lies in its politics.
21:20A strong Dravidian identity, built around social justice, regional pride and resistance to Indian position, has long defined the state.
21:28Adding to that, the BJP has lacked a dominant regional face and remains dependent on alliances without a deep-rooted
21:35vote base of its own.
21:37But in 2026, they sense an opportunity.
21:41The BJP is contesting on 27 seats, its highest, as part of the NDA.
21:46Its ally, the AIADMK, has weakened significantly after Jai Lalita's death and with internal splits.
21:52That creates space for the BJP to position itself as a new political alternator.
21:57Then there's the ruling DMK.
21:59Stalin's party faces persistent attacks from the BJP over family politics and minority appeasement opening a political window.
22:09The BJP is also sharpening its ideological pitch.
22:12Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Lord Murugan Temple amid the Deepam Rao at the start of March signals a
22:18clear Hindutva push in the state.
22:19I went to Tiruparan Kundrum, getting the darshan of Bhagawan Murugan was a divine experience.
22:38I prayed for the prosperity of Tamil Nadu and the entire nation.
22:46On the ground there formed a strong strategy.
22:49Aggressive campaigning, booth-level expansion, cultural outreach.
22:54The same playbook that has worked in other southern states.
22:57D.M.K. has done all the problems.
23:02But the work is zero.
23:07D.M.K. government is now calling the CMC government.
23:15D.M.K. government is calling the CMC government.
23:43today. It's over to the voter now to decide who they will pick, Stalin, EPS, Vijay or other
23:52political players in Tamil Nadu. For now, that's all we have time for on the special broadcast.
23:57Thanks very much for tuning in.
Comments