Thiruvananthapuram: A “hawk from the North” eyeing Tamil Nadu, the contentious New Education Policy (NEP) and Special Intensive Revision (SIR), and Stalin front and centre—the ruling DMK’s official campaign song pitches the upcoming assembly polls as a battle to save the state.
Built around the theme ‘Stalin Thodarattum, Tamil Nadu Vellattum’ (Let Stalin continue, let Tamil Nadu triumph), the lyric also warns of “eagles” that may arrive in disguise, “but will be driven away”, an apparent reference to the BJP and the party-led Centre.
Built around the line “Stalin Thodarattum, Tamil Nadu Vellattum” (Let Stalin continue, let Tamil Nadu triumph), the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s official campaign song pitches the upcoming assembly polls as a battle to save Tamil Nadu.
It seeks to deliver a message: Stalin should continue for Tamil Nadu to win and to oppose the BJP.
Aiming a second consecutive term in the state, the DMK has been focusing on highlighting the government’s welfare schemes to counter the the BJP-AIADMK alliance’s push.
And even as the party released the campaign song, on the governance front, the DMK made a significant move Friday morning, crediting Rs 5,000 each to the bank accounts of 1.31 crore beneficiaries under the Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme.
In a five-minute video message, Stalin said the government decided to advance-credit the Rs 1,000 monthly grant for February, March, and April, along with an additional Rs 2,000 as special summer assistance, as it understood the difficulties the families would have to go through if the scheme was halted for three months during elections.
தமிழ்நாட்டு மகளிருக்கு இந்த ஸ்டாலின் தந்த உறுதிமொழிதான் உரிமைத்தொகை. யார் தடை ஏற்படுத்தினாலும் அதிலிருந்து பின்வாங்க மாட்டேன்.
தேர்தலைக் காரணம் காட்டி, மூன்று மாதங்களுக்கு உரிமைத்தொகையை முடக்கப் பார்க்கிறார்கள். முந்திக்கொண்டது நமது #DravidianModel அரசு!
பிப்ரவரி, மார்ச்,… pic.twitter.com/n7VrMqcrb7
— M.K.Stalin – தமிழ்நாட்டை தலைகுனிய விடமாட்டேன் (@mkstalin) February 13, 2026
The Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai scheme, launched in September 2023, provides Rs 1,000 monthly for one woman in families with an annual income less than Rs 2.5 lakh. Stalin added that the government would increase the monthly amount to Rs 2,000 if the DMK returns to power.
Stalin said the amount is the ‘rights-based allowance’ for women, which can meet their varied expenses.
“This scheme is also adopted by other state governments. While we are trying to improve it, we are hearing that a party in Delhi and their slaves in Tamil Nadu are trying to halt it,” he said.
The BJP hit back, saying people will not forget the DMK government’s “misgovernance”.
“Mr. @mkstalin, you may try to lure people by giving even Rupees 50,000/-; the state will not forgive or forget your @arivalayam’s misrule of 5 years, particularly on the deteriorating law and order, crimes against women, particularly crimes against girl children in schools,” BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy said on an X post, tagging the CM and his party.
“Dravida model may think people are fools, but remember people are not. Thamizh people are very clever in throwing out governments and parties that have failed to protect them,” Thirupathy added.
Also Read: In poll-bound TN, Modi challenges DMK with ‘double engine’ pitch. Stalin’s ‘dummy engine’ retort
‘Hawk from north’
The DMK’s 2026 poll campaign song, released Wednesday through the party’s official social media handles, portrays Stalin as the sole force capable of “saving” the state.
“Every time, a great hawk rises from the North to destabilise Tamil Nadu, with the immense strength of Thanthai Periyar, Perarignar Anna (C. N. Annadurai), and Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar (Karunanidhi), we have driven it away each time,” says the X post accompanying the song.
“Now, through the 2026 election, the time has come once again, under the leadership of the Honourable Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, to pluck the feathers of that hawk and cast it away,” the post adds.
The song, which predominantly uses the red-and-black colour theme and imagery of the rising sun denoting the DMK flag, establishes welfare and social justice as core pillars of the Dravidian movement.
This is the official audio release of DMK Campaign Song for the 2026 Elections.
The people are chanting for Stalin to Continue and Tamil Nadu to Win!
Enjoy the Lyrical Video of the 2026 Official DMK Campaign Song.
2026 சட்டமன்றத் தேர்தலுக்கான திராவிட முன்னேற்றக் கழகத்தின்… pic.twitter.com/66a8fx3CdX
— DMK (@arivalayam) February 11, 2026
The song says the Dravidian movement took on divisive forces such as caste and religion, advancing social justice under leaders like Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, C. N. Annadurai, and M. Karunanidhi
The song resembles a Tamil movie song’s tone and beat, then focuses on Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, portraying him as a leader who has delivered on his promises.
For instance, one stanza goes: Irundru kedantha bhoomiyile, Velicham thantha sooriyane (you are the sun that brought light to the land that was in darkness), merandu kedantha nenjukkulle Dhairiyam thantha Dravidane (you are the Dravidian who gave courage to frightened hearts) Veendum vaa thalaivane (Come again, leader).
Talking to ThePrint, political analyst A. Ramasamy said the song focuses primarily on Stalin as the DMK’s face.
“Historically, Dravidian parties have centred around individuals. Now, the AIADMK faces criticism over the absence of a strong leader after Jayalalithaa. The DMK focuses on Stalin,” he said, adding the song emphasises his return rather than the party itself.
Elections to the 234-member assembly are expected to be held in Tamil Nadu in April–May.
While the DMK faces its traditional rival in the AIADMK–NDA alliance, new entrant TVK of actor-politician Vijay also presents a challenge to the ruling party.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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