He was jailed for a year in 1976 for protesting against the Emergency. In 1980, he launched the youth wing of the DMK. Stalin made his legislative debut in 1989 when he was elected from the Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai. The present tenure is his seventh term as a member of the Legislative Assembly. In 1996, as Chennai's first directly elected mayor, he piloted the Singara Chennai (Beautiful Chennai) project that vastly improved Chennai's infrastructure.
He has been an effective campaigner for social justice and federal balance. He is in the forefront of the move to secure the rights of states from the overreach of the Union Government. Stalin is the fulcrum of the opposition unity in India. In the political alliance -INDIA- Stalin plays a key role of ironing out the differences among the various constituent parties to work out a cohesive political narrative for the 2024 General Elections.
Excerpts from an exclusive interview he gave to A S Panneerselvan
What were the key challenges when you came to power in 2021?
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government took over at a critical time the second wave of Covid. We had before us the most challenging task of saving people's lives. Within a week, we managed everything including the oxygen shortage and restored the normal life of the people.
However, due to the mismanagement and corruption of the previous government, the economic development of Tamil Nadu and the financial condition of the state had severely deteriorated.
The fundamental structure of Tamil Nadu was in shambles as the AIADMK rulers were subservient to the central government which was snatching away the rights of the state. Our goal and aim of changing these conditions and making Tamil Nadu the number one State once again began with challenges. Tamil Nadu had successfully faced those challenges and today boasts of many achievements.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Trump's White House 'Waapsi'
Donald Trump's victory in the US presidential election may very well mean an end to democracy in the near future
IMT Ghaziabad hosted its Annual Convocation Ceremony for the Class of 2024
Shri Suresh Narayanan, Chairman Managing Director of Nestlé India Limited, congratulated and motivated graduates at IMT Ghaziabad's Convocation 2024
Identity and 'Infiltrators'
The Jharkhand Assembly election has emerged as a high-stakes political contest, with the battle for power intensifying between key players in the state.
Beyond Deadlines
Bibek Debroy could engage with even those who were not aligned with his politics or economics
Portraying Absence
Exhibits at a group art show in Kolkata examine existence in the absence
Of Rivers, Jungles and Mountains
In Adivasi poetry, everything breathes, everything is alive and nothing is inferior to humans
Hemant Versus Himanta
Himanta Biswa Sarma brings his hate bandwagon to Jharkhand to rattle Hemant Soren’s tribal identity politics
A Smouldering Wasteland
As Jharkhand goes to the polls, people living in and around Jharia coalfield have just one request for the administration—a life free from smoke, fear and danger for their children
Search for a Narrative
By demanding a separate Sarna Code for the tribals, Hemant Soren has offered the larger issue of tribal identity before the voters
The Historic Bonhomie
While the BJP Is trying to invoke the trope of Bangladeshi infiltrators”, the ground reality paints a different picture pertaining to the historical significance of Muslim-Adivasi camaraderie
