Tamil Nadu's Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin used a wedding reception on Sunday to spell out that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will not compromise on its bond with minority communities. He said the party would keep resisting divisive politics and would stay firm in protecting the rights and interests of these communities. According to him, the trust between the DMK and minorities runs so deep that no politically motivated campaign can weaken it.
A bond built on trust, DMK says
Addressing guests at the wedding reception of the granddaughter of DMK headquarters secretary Thuraimugam Kaja in Thiruverkadu, Udhayanidhi Stalin said the party has stood with minority communities from the start and will keep doing so going forward. He repeated that the DMK's secular outlook and its approach of carrying everyone along form the core of its politics, and that this is why the party has held to that line through every phase.
A sharp jab at those who left for power
Without naming anyone directly, Udhayanidhi Stalin pointed at former allies with a pointed remark, saying some people walked away from the DMK the moment they got a share of power. But he made clear that loyal party workers and members of minority communities have stood firmly with the DMK through every political challenge. He said this unwavering support from minorities is proof of a strong, decades old relationship between the party and the people. He also accused political rivals of trying to spread division by circulating misinformation, but said such attempts would never succeed. In his words, no matter who tries to create division or spread slander, the DMK will always remain a shield of protection for minorities and the Muslim community.
Standing in for his father on stage
Udhayanidhi Stalin also said former Chief Minister and DMK president MK Stalin will always stand with the people, protect Tamil Nadu's interests and provide strong leadership in difficult times. He told the gathering that he was representing his father at the wedding, since MK Stalin, who was originally supposed to attend, could not make it.
Escorting Seeman inside, a rare show of political warmth
The event also produced a rare glimpse of political goodwill. Udhayanidhi Stalin personally escorted Naam Tamilar Katchi coordinator Seeman inside the venue. Seeman was present at the wedding as a guest. The moment showed that personal warmth can survive even amid sharp political differences.
A story from the 1989 election
Recalling Thuraimugam Kaja's long association with the DMK, Udhayanidhi Stalin also narrated an old story from the 1989 Tamil Nadu assembly election. Kaja was an AIADMK candidate at the time and contested from the Harbour constituency against DMK's late leader M. Karunanidhi. Interestingly, before vote counting was even complete, Kaja personally went and garlanded Karunanidhi to congratulate him. The gesture reflected the kind of political courtesy that existed even between electoral rivals in that era. Udhayanidhi Stalin said Kaja later joined the DMK and became one of the party's most dedicated workers.
The two pillars of Anna Arivalayam
Udhayanidhi Stalin also said former Chief Minister MK Stalin often refers to Kaja and senior party leader Poochi S. Murugan as the two pillars of the DMK headquarters, Anna Arivalayam, a way of honouring their years of unwavering service to the party. The wedding was attended by several senior DMK leaders, party workers and a large number of people from the Muslim community. The occasion gave Udhayanidhi Stalin another opportunity to reaffirm the DMK government's commitment to minority welfare and its promise to maintain inclusive, secular governance in Tamil Nadu.
