Chennai, April 11, 2026: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin on Saturday alleged that the BJP's primary agenda is to keep minorities in a state of fear as a means to retain power, amid the heated campaign for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Speaking to reporters and addressing rallies, Stalin accused the BJP-led central government of pursuing policies that target Muslims and Christians, citing examples such as the Manipur violence, the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), changes related to Waqf properties, and the proposed amendments to the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA). He claimed these moves are designed to foster division and insecurity among minority communities.
"BJP's main agenda is to keep minorities in fear," Stalin asserted, adding that Muslims continue to face attacks and that the Centre is now "desperate" to amend the FCRA, which he described as a direct assault on Christian NGOs, churches, and other minority institutions. He linked this to earlier attempts to "take over Waqf properties" and urged the withdrawal of the FCRA Amendment Bill, 2026, calling it "unjust and arbitrary."
Stalin's remarks come as the DMK ramps up its campaign for the April 23, 2026, assembly polls (with results expected on May 4). He has repeatedly positioned the DMK-led alliance as the defender of secularism, social justice, and Tamil Nadu's autonomy against what he calls "divisive forces" from Delhi, often targeting the AIADMK-BJP alliance. He described the AIADMK as lacking ideology and functioning as a "slave" to the BJP's central leadership.
In recent weeks, Stalin has also accused the BJP of attempting to incite communal violence in Tamil Nadu similar to incidents in Uttar Pradesh and Manipur, claiming his government thwarted such efforts. He has criticized central policies on issues ranging from women's reservation (alleged to be used as a political tool) to federal funding and language policies.
The Chief Minister has emphasized DMK's commitment to upholding constitutional safeguards for minorities and highlighted the party's welfare schemes aimed at all sections of society, including women and the underprivileged. He projected confidence in a strong victory for the DMK alliance while playing down speculation about a larger national role for himself.
# BJP and Allies' Response
The BJP has dismissed Stalin's allegations as part of a "web of deceit" and accused the DMK of fear-mongering to polarize voters. Tamil Nadu BJP leaders have countered that the DMK's narrative ignores development initiatives and misrepresents central policies meant for national interest. They have also hit back on issues like women's safety and governance under the previous AIADMK regime, now in alliance with the BJP.
# Broader Context
The 2026 Tamil Nadu elections are shaping up as a contest between the DMK-led front (including Congress and others) and the AIADMK-BJP combine, with emerging players like Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by actor Vijay adding uncertainty. Issues of federalism, minority rights, welfare schemes, and alleged central interference in state affairs dominate the discourse. Stalin has vowed to protect Tamil Nadu's "Dravidian model" of development and social harmony against what he terms the "Aryan model" promoted by the NDA.
As polling draws near, both sides are intensifying outreach, with Stalin focusing on constituency-level campaigns while accusing institutions like the Election Commission of bias in matters such as voter list revisions and administrative changes. The BJP, meanwhile, is pushing its development and anti-corruption plank.
This latest statement from Stalin underscores the sharp communal and ideological polarization in the state's election rhetoric as parties vie for minority and secular votes in the Dravidian heartland.
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