TVK implementing our schemes, DMK still in power: Stalin

Trichy: DMK president M K Stalin has claimed that Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) won the assembly election by using Instagram and children to campaign among family members, and that DMK continues to rule the state as long as its welfare schemes remain in force. He was speaking at a family event of Tiruvarur MLA 'Poondi' K Kalaivanan in Thanjavur on Monday.Without naming TVK or chief minister C Joseph Vijay, he said the party's leaders did not meet voters, hold conferences or appoint booth and counting agents unlike what DMK did. However, TVK still won the election, and there was nothing wrong in it. "They (TVK) used social media, especially Instagram, and made children campaign for them. They employed a strategy of getting children to convince their fathers, mothers, grandfathers, and grandmothers to vote for them," he said. "Hereafter, we should be vigilant and thwart such strategies," he said. Stalin said he had urged the new govt to continue welfare schemes introduced by his govt. "TVK govt is implementing those very schemes. That is why I say we (DMK) are still in power," he said. Recalling his election campaign speech in which he had said nobody could change the achievements (schemes) of women and students, Stalin said, "As long as the schemes continue, the Dravidian model govt will continue." Stalin said a committee had been formed to introspect on the reasons for the defeat. "Starting from today, the committee will inspect each constituency, identify the shortcomings, and analyse the reasons," he said. Party workers and the public can register their feedback on the party's website. "We will return to power. We should work with that hope," he said, while asking workers not to be dejected."DMK's enemies think the party's story is over, but the history of the party is that whenever it has faced defeat, it has always risen again like a Phoenix," he said. "My only grievance is that had we got an extension, we would have done more work." DMK would now fulfil its duty as the opposition by organising protests and demonstrations, he said. Stalin later posted on X that DMK would not be a hindrance to the TVK govt in carrying out its administration. However, he warned that if TVK attacked the DMK with slander to hide its incompetence, his party would provide clarifications. "I appeal to fellow brethren to break the truth if they spread lies on social media," he added.