M K Stalin

Stalin hits out at Centre over women's quota, flags delimitation concerns

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly criticised the Centre over the women's reservation and accused it of trying to use it as a "weapon" to tackle the opposition before taking up the delimitation exercise based on population. "The Union government is not concerned about implementing reservations for women. If their concerns were genuine, they could have done it right away. Rather than doing that, the BJP-led Centre is thinking of using it as a weapon to tackle opposition and take up the delimitation exercise based on population," he told PTI in an interview. "Hence, the women's reservation must be implemented immediately without showing delimitation as a reason," the DMK president added. The Union Cabinet recently cleared the draft bill for the amendments to the law, Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, more commonly known as the Women's Reservation Act, that will ensure an increase in the number of Lok Sabha seats to 816 with 273 reserved for women, and its implementation in t

Stalin accuses Centre of 'using' women's quota, slams EPS over delimitation

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin has strongly criticised the Centre over the women's reservation and accused it of trying to use it as a "weapon" to tackle the opposition before taking up the delimitation exercise based on population. "The Union government is not concerned about implementing reservations for women. If their concerns were genuine, they could have done it right away. Rather than doing that, the BJP-led Centre is thinking of using it as a weapon to tackle opposition and take up the delimitation exercise based on population," he told PTI in an interview. "Hence, the women's reservation must be implemented immediately without showing delimitation as a reason," the DMK president added. Expressing apprehensions on the proposed delimitation exercise, the CM said it was the DMK that raised the first voice asserting the rights of the state after realising that Tamil Nadu would be affected by the proposed exercise. He also attacked his rival and AIADMK chief Edappadi K ...

FCRA Bill 'draconian', takes away Constitutional rights: TN CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday termed the Centre's proposed FCRA Amendment Bill 2026 "draconian", and alleged it targeted minorities, especially Christian organisations and demanded that it be dropped. Addressing a rally here, Stalin alleged that the BJP-led Centre failed to protect Tamil Nadu fishermen and it has failed in its foreign policy. Furthermore, the Dravidian party chief alleged that PM Modi has created a situation of no influence for India, even among smaller neighbouring countries. The FCRA Amendment Bill is tantamount to taking away rights provided by the Constitution and it was a serious assault on the freedom of religion and also on the people who wish to do social service, he said.

Stalin unveils DMK manifesto, pledges welfare expansion, development push

Promises include higher grants for women and students, expanded schemes, and increased procurement prices

TN govt offers ₹2 per unit power subsidy for eateries using induction

The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday announced a subsidy of Rs 2 per unit of electricity for restaurants, hotels and tea shops that switch to electric stoves instead of commercial LPG cylinders to run their businesses. Chief Minister M K Stalin has been holding review meetings since the conflict in West Asia began on February 28, which has led to a shortage of commercial LPG cylinders for eateries, the government said. At a review meeting held on Saturday, it was decided to provide a subsidy of Rs 2 per unit for the additional electricity consumed by the hotels, tea shops and cloud kitchens using induction stoves. "This subsidy will remain in effect as long as the commercial LPG usage restrictions announced by the Centre are in place," Additional Chief Secretary J Radhakrishnan said. Briefing reporters at the Secretariat here, he said electricity consumption by hoteliers and restaurants has increased, with demand rising by about 50 MW above the average in the recent days. Referri

Stalin inaugurates Phase 2 of Pinnacle Infotech Centre in Madurai

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday inaugurated the Phase 2 of Global Engineering Centre of Excellence of Pinnacle Infotech here. The Chief Minister, on the occasion, also laid the foundation stone for a dedicated employee housing facility, Guidance, the state government-backed investment promotion agency, said. The expansion would see an addition of 1.60 lakh sq ft of advanced workspace and recruitment of 2,000 professionals, taking the overall capacity to 4,000 people, a press release said. "In a significant milestone for Tamil Nadu's expanding global engineering ecosystem, Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated Phase 2 of Pinnacle Infotech's Global Engineering Centre of Excellence and laid the foundation stone for a dedicated employee housing facility," the release said on Saturday. The expansion of Pinnacle Infotech reflects the State's continued emergence as a global destination for engineering innovation and digital construction excellence. "With Phase II the com

KLA Corporation signs MoU with Tamil Nadu for ₹3,600 crore R&D campus

Semiconductor major to invest up to $400 million over 10 years in Chennai innovation hub, expected to generate 4,000 jobs and boost AI-led chip research

TN growth outpaces national average: CM Stalin outlines $1 trillion roadmap

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday asserted that the state's economic growth has significantly outpaced the national average with a growth rate of 11.19 per cent. "Today, Tamil Nadu's economic growth is higher than the national average, at 11.19 per cent. To be more specific, while India's manufacturing sector growth last year was 4.5 per cent, Tamil Nadu's growth was three times higher at 14.7 per cent," the Chief Minister said. Speaking at the Conversion Conclave 2026, a unique initiative held to demonstrate the transformation of investment agreements into operational projects, Stalin described this achievement as a "deed-based answer" to critics of the Dravidian Model of governance. "In this conclave alone, we are celebrating achievements with the inauguration of 52 companies, foundation stone laying for 71 companies, and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with two new companies," he added. In his address, Stalin also highlighted the state's industrial prowess, ..

Alliance with Congress intact, no scope for power-sharing: CM Stalin

Amid some apparent strains in ties with the Congress over power-sharing, ruling DMK president and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday asserted that the alliance was "intact," but firmly ruled out accommodating allies in the cabinet. Congress MP from Tamil Nadu's Virudhunagar, Manickam Tagore, a vocal proponent of power-sharing, said that it was up to the people to decide whether it was single party or coalition government. Actor Vijay-led TVK said allies being denied cabinet representation was "against social justice" as they play a key role in the alliance' victory Stalin maintained that the alliance with the grand old party was free from confusion. In the past months, this is the first time the chief minister has asserted that there is no possibility of sharing power, a concept alien to Tamil Nadu's political history that has been dominated by the Dravidian parties since 1967. Amid a war of words between a section of leaders from the DMK and the Congress over ...

TN CM Stalin backs UGC regulations, urges Centre not to dilute reforms

CM Stalin said that since the BJP came to power at the Centre, there has been a noticeable rise in student suicides in higher education institutions

Tamil Nadu CM Stalin launches DMK manifesto portal ahead of 2026 polls

The portal will enable people from all sectors of society to submit ideas and suggestions for the party's election manifesto

DMK's governance and welfare delivery earn strong public trust: Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday said the Dravidian model government led by him in the state has earned a good name even from the people who have not voted for the DMK. However, it was not the case with the BJP that governs the Centre, as even its supporters were making searing criticism of the union government, he alleged. Addressing a government function at Malappambadi near here, the chief minister said the DMK regime is working for the overall development of Tamil Nadu, which includes each and every district and every family. The Dravidian model of governance and growth across sectors speaks volumes about the state overcoming a string of challenges. Due to the BJP-led government's implementation of GST, the state does not have the "right over tax," he alleged and claimed that the funds due to the state have not been released by the Centre. On top of it, the state has a governor who has been deputed by the Centre only to cause trouble to the elected government. I

Tamil Nadu ready to support cyclone affected Sri Lanka: CM Stalin

Chief Minister M K Stalin on Sunday said the Tamil Nadu government is ready to lend a helping hand to cyclone-wrecked Sri Lanka, by providing food and medicine, through the Union government. Stalin said he has directed Chief Secretary N Muruganandam to form a committee of officials to work in coordination with the Central government in this regard. Meanwhile, the CM said that steps were taken by the state's Commissionerate of Rehabilitation and Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils to safely bring back home passengers from Tamil Nadu stranded in Sri Lanka, and in the first phase, as many as 177 people, including 4 children and 60 women, were brought back to the state on Sunday morning. Conveying his condolences to the bereaved families in Sri Lanka, the chief minister said that the Tamil Nadu people shared the grief of the people of the island nation.

Cyclone Ditwah nears Tamil Nadu coast, red alert issued for delta districts

Cyclone Ditwah was slowly moving closer towards the Tamil Nadu coast and it was likely to bring heavy rainfall, the weather office said on Friday, as the state government reviewed its preparedness to face the second such weather system in a month. The weather office forecast heavy rains in the southern and Cauvery delta districts of the state, between November 29 and 30. The name, 'Ditwah', referring to a lagoon, was suggested by Yemen. It is likely named after Detwah Lagoon, a large, saline lagoon on the northwest coast of the island of Socotra in Yemen. In a bulletin on Friday evening, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said the cyclonic storm 'Ditwah' over the coast of Sri Lanka and adjoining southwest Bay of Bengal moved slowly northwards with a speed of 3 kmph during past 6 hours and lay centred at 2.30 hrs of today, November 28 over the same region. It is located about 300 km south-southeast of Karaikal, 410 km south-southeast of Puducherry and 510 km south-southeast o

Stalin writes to Modi, says rejection of metro projects caused resentment

Chief Minister M K Stalin on Saturday conveyed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi his disappointment over the Centre's rejection of proposals for Metro Rail projects in Coimbatore and Madurai and said it has caused resentment among public and sought reconsideration of the decision. High-capacity public transport alternatives are an imperative in large growth engine cities, Stalin said and underscored that Tamil Nadu was the most urbanised state in the country with a high per-capita private vehicle ownership. Writing to Modi, the chief minister said, under such circumstances, the state government prepared the DPRs for Coimbatore and Madurai Metro Rails and forwarded it to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for approval. However, the proposals were rejected by MoHUA, he said and conveyed his government's disappointment and anguish in this regard. "It has created deep resentment amongst the people of the two cities that their deserving needs have been rejected, as ...

No rest until amending Constitution to fix timelines for guvs: CM Stalin

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin on Friday asserted that "there will be no rest" until amending the Constitution to fix timelines for Governors to clear Bills. In his first reaction to the Supreme Court's advisory opinion on the Presidential Reference, he said, "Our fight for State rights and true federalism will continue." In a statement, Stalin said that the Supreme Court's opinion in its answer to the Presidential Reference will have no impact on the April 8, 2025 judgment in the case of State of Tamil Nadu vs Governor of Tamil Nadu. In fact, the chief minister said that the Bench tendering the advisory opinion has reaffirmed that the elected government should be in the driver's seat, and there cannot be two executive power centres in the State. "The Governor has no fourth option to kill the Bill or exercise a pocket veto (as was done by the TN Governor). He has no option to withhold the Bill simpliciter," the CM asserted.

Tamil Nadu CM slams Centre over rejection of plea on paddy moisture norms

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Thursday slammed the BJP-led Union government for rejecting the state's request to relax moisture norms for paddy procurement and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately intervene to protect the state's farmers. In a social media post, Stalin said the Centre had turned down Tamil Nadu's plea to allow procurement of paddy with a higher moisture content in view of heavy northeast monsoon rains in the Cauvery delta and other districts. Only on Wednesday did the Prime Minister attend a farmers meet in Coimbatore, after the Centre had denied a Metro rail project for the western city, besides Madurai. "Even before the dampness of his visit has dried, the union BJP government has rejected our request for relaxation of moisture norms in paddy procurement," the CM said. According to him, the state has been pressing the Centre to raise the permissible moisture level in paddy from the existing 17 per cent to 22 per cent for the current Kharif

Stalin slams Centre's 'no metro' move for Madurai, Coimbatore as revenge

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday hit out at the Union BJP government for rejecting Metro Rail projects for Madurai and Coimbatore, calling the move an act of "revenge" against the people of the state. In a post on 'X,' Stalin said the Centre had told the state "No metro" for the "Temple City" of Madurai and "South India's Manchester", Coimbatore, despite similar projects being cleared in other smaller cities in BJP-ruled states. "The Union BJP government has denied Metro Rail for Temple City Madurai and for South India's Manchester, Coimbatore, on flimsy grounds. A government exists to serve people without bias. Yet the Union #BJP treats #Tamil Nadu's democratic choice as a reason to take revenge," wrote CM Stalin in his post. The Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry recently reportedly returned Tamil Nadu's Detailed Project Reports for the two Tier-II cities, citing the Metro Rail Policy, 2017, which restricts central support to urban agglomerations with a ...

AIADMK flags lack of wheat in ration shops; TN govt to supply by mid-Nov

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami flagged the lack of wheat stock at the fair price shops across Tamil Nadu, prompting the state government to respond by assuring the supplies by November 15. State Food and Civil Supplies Minister R Sakkarapani, in reply to Palaniswami's claim that wheat was not available in 12,573 ration shops, has said that the state government has been continuously requesting the Centre to allocate more wheat to Tamil Nadu. From January 2024 to September 2024, only 8,576 metric tons of wheat was allotted by the union government on a monthly basis. Following Chief Minister M K Stalin's insistence, wheat allocation to the state was increased to 17,100.38 metric tons from October 2024 to February 2025, Sakkarapani said. This was being distributed to the general public in fair price shops without any hindrance. Currently, the Centre has reduced the wheat quota to the previous quantum of allotment, he said in a statement here on November 9. The average

No protection for women in TN, crimes against them increases: AIADMK chief

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Saturday claimed there was no protection to women and girls in Tamil Nadu, as crimes against them continued to "increase." Targeting the state government on women's safety, Palaniswami said it was very disheartening that women and girls lacked safety under the present DMK rule. The DMK government appeared to take pride in compensating 6,999 victims of sexual violence, as per the provisions of the POCSO Act, by providing them Rs 104 crore during its rule, he said. "The Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Minister has said that the government provided a relief of about Rs 104 crore to 6,999 girl victims. Is it a matter of pride to compensate girl victims, or is it wise to reduce crimes against them," Palaniswami asked while addressing the party's 54th foundation day meeting at Omalur in the district. The state government had disbursed the sum under the Women Victims Compensation Fund. Stating that party leaders and former Chief ...