Chennai, February 21 – The ongoing political battle between Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president K. Annamalai has intensified, with Udhayanidhi challenging his rival to meet him at Anna Salai in Chennai.
The verbal sparring between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the BJP has been fueled by disputes over state fund allocations and the implementation of the three-language policy. Annamalai has publicly supported the three-language policy, accusing the DMK-led government of politicizing the issue.
Triggering the Conflict
The latest exchange was triggered by Annamalai’s remarks at a public gathering in Karur, where he criticized Udhayanidhi Stalin for the DMK’s repeated attacks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The controversy stems from Udhayanidhi’s earlier statement that if the Union government continued to "suppress" the rights of states, the people of Tamil Nadu would respond with "Go Back Modi" slogans, as witnessed during Modi’s visit to the state in 2018.
Reacting to this, Annamalai launched a scathing rebuttal, challenging Udhayanidhi to make the statement openly. "Udhayanidhi Stalin said 'Go Back Modi,' now they are saying 'Get Out Modi.' If you have the courage, say it again towards our world leader. I will come to your house and paste posters. You don’t know how to respect global leaders. You are a child who has only seen the Sun when it is at its peak," Annamalai said, referring to Udhayanidhi’s lineage as the grandson of DMK founder M. Karunanidhi and son of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.
Udhayanidhi's Response
Countering Annamalai’s remarks, Udhayanidhi Stalin dismissed them as an attempt to divert attention from key issues. "This shows their standards. They are deliberately trying to shift focus from the real concern—allocating funds for Tamil Nadu. When Modi visited Tamil Nadu in 2018, he had to leave amid protests, black flags, and slogans. Let Annamalai stop diverting the discussion," he asserted.
Challenging Annamalai directly, he added, "If he has the courage, let him come to Anna Salai. I will be at home. He previously claimed he would do something at Anna Arivalayam (DMK headquarters), yet nothing happened. Instead of making personal remarks, he should focus on securing funds for Tamil Nadu."
Annamalai’s Counterchallenge
Refusing to back down, Annamalai responded with yet another challenge, claiming there was no comparison between himself and Udhayanidhi. "If there is a politician without standards, it is Udhayanidhi Stalin. He is riding on the legacy of his grandfather and father. Let the DMK fix a date and time—I will come alone to Anna Salai. The entire DMK cadre and police force can try to stop me if they can," he said.
Further escalating the rhetoric, Annamalai announced that he would retaliate against Udhayanidhi’s statements. "Tomorrow at 6 AM, I will post 'Get Out Stalin' as a direct response to their campaign," he declared.
A Political Battle in the Run-Up to 2026
The exchange between Udhayanidhi Stalin and Annamalai signals the increasing political tensions in Tamil Nadu as the state heads toward the 2026 Assembly elections. With key issues such as language policy and state funding dominating the discourse, the battle between the DMK and BJP is expected to intensify in the coming months
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