Kamal Ghorui
CUDDALORE: Tamil Nadu chief minister and DMK president M K Stalin made a clarion call for the formation of “Dravidian Model 2.0” govt after the 2026 assembly election.Sharing the stage with VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan and DMDK general secretary Premallatha Vijayakanth to exhibit the solidarity of the alliance, Stalin said under the current DMK regime, Tamil Nadu’s growth rate jumped from a dismal 0.07% during the previous AIADMK regime to a robust 11.19%, earning the state the moniker of “Superstar State” in global media.Recalling his deep friendship with the late ‘Captain’ and DMDK founder Vijayakanth, Stalin noted that Vridhachalam was the soil that first gave Vijayakanth victory in 2006. “Sister Premallatha has mentioned that she feels this alliance should have happened sooner. I agree. Better late than never. This is now the latest and strongest winning combination,” he said.He referenced a song written by the late chief minister M Karunanidhi for Vijayakanth’s film Makkal Aanaittal, urging voters to “think of the next generation” before casting their ballots. He said the party’s manifesto is the superstar of the alliance’s campaign.He unveiled a series of welfare guarantees aimed at homemakers, farmers and the youth. He said the monthly ‘Urimai Thogai’ (rights grant) will be increased from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000. Additionally, an “Illatharasi Scheme” will provide Rs 8,000 coupons for purchasing or exchanging home appliances.The breakfast scheme will be expanded from Class V up to Class VIII, benefiting an additional 15 lakh children. He announced that the financial aid under the ‘Pudhumai Penn’ and ‘Tamil Pudhalvan’ schemes would be hiked to Rs 1,500. The procurement prices will be hiked to Rs 3,500 per quintal for paddy and Rs 4,500 per tonne for sugarcane. Furthermore, 20 lakh modern electric pump sets will be distributed to farmers. Recognising Cuddalore’s vulnerability to natural calamities, Stalin promised enhanced compensation of Rs 25,000 per hectare for paddy and Rs 27,000 for long-term crops.Stalin did not mince words when criticising the Union govt and the AIADMK. He condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks that free bus travel for women (Vidiyal Payanam) reduces profits of metro rail. “This shows the Prime Minister doesn’t care about women’s advancement. If the NDA comes to power, they will stop this scheme,” Stalin warned.He accused AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami of surrendering Tamil Nadu’s rights to the BJP to escape investigations into corruption cases like the Gutkha scam and Kodanad heist. He mocked the AIADMK, saying it is no longer “Anna DMK” but has turned into “Amit Shah DMK”.He listed specific infrastructure projects completed and planned for the district, including a new bridge across the Gadilam river, desilting and strengthening of the Perumal lake in Kurinjipadi, promoting Pichavaram as a popular tourist destination and extending modern cancer treatment facilities at the Cuddalore govt medical college hospital.
