Fri Apr 18 10:26:45 UTC 2025: ## Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Defies BJP, Vows State’s Autonomy

**Chennai, April 18, 2025** – Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin issued a direct challenge to Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday, asserting that the state will never succumb to Delhi’s administration. Stalin’s strong statement comes in response to Shah’s prediction of an AIADMK-BJP government in Tamil Nadu in 2026.

Stalin accused the BJP of employing tactics of intimidation and alliance-building through coercion in other states, asserting these methods would fail in Tamil Nadu. He directly challenged Shah and the BJP’s “parivaar” (family) to contest the 2026 elections, highlighting the BJP’s alleged insults towards Tamils by Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and Shobha Karandlaje (who later apologized). He also criticized the BJP’s narrative regarding a Tamil IAS officer’s involvement in an incident at the Puri Jagannathar temple, alleging it was a divisive tactic.

The Chief Minister emphasized the DMK’s Dravidian model of governance and its commitment to state autonomy, citing the party’s opposition to NEET, the three-language policy, and the Waqf Amendment Act as examples. He further highlighted Tamil Nadu’s successes across various sectors despite alleged obstacles created by the central government. Stalin vowed to overcome these obstacles legally, while praising the state’s achievements and accusing the AIADMK of acting against the interests of Tamil Nadu by aligning with the BJP. He also referenced a committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Kurian Joseph, tasked with strengthening state autonomy and federalism. The statement concludes with Stalin’s confident assertion that the BJP’s plans for Tamil Nadu will fail under his leadership.

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