Pudukkottai

Tamil Nadu Minister for Natural Resources S Raghupathi on Saturday expressed confidence that the DMK-led alliance would register a landslide victory in the upcoming Assembly elections, claiming it would secure more than 200 seats.

Speaking to reporters after inaugurating a ₹10.32 crore drinking water augmentation project under the AMRUT 2.0 scheme at Annavasal Town Panchayat in the Viralimali Assembly constituency, Raghupathi said the ruling alliance’s strength would continue to grow.

The minister said the DMK-led front would not sideline any of its alliance partners. “Our alliance will only expand, not shrink. We will treat all partners with friendship and respect. Ours will be a government for everyone,” he said.

During the event, banners featuring AIADMK MLA and former minister C Vijayabaskar were displayed at the venue but were later removed.

Responding to remarks by the BJP on the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) joining the DMK alliance, Raghupathi said that comments invoking the late party founder Vijayakanth should be made only by his family members.

“The BJP is not Vijayakanth’s heir. If anyone has the right to speak about him, it is his successors. In 2016, when Vijayakanth was alive, there was a possibility of a DMK-DMDK alliance, but it was diverted. Now, his wife Premalatha Vijayakanth has fulfilled that path. His soul will bless this alliance,” the minister said.

On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s proposed visit to the state, Raghupathi said the DMK would welcome the visit if it brought beneficial schemes for Tamil Nadu. “Otherwise, it is for the people of the state to decide,” he added.

The minister also praised Chief Minister M K Stalin, saying his leadership and political strategy had earned recognition across the country.

Claiming that various opinion polls were favourable to the DMK, Raghupathi said the party relied more on grassroots outreach than surveys. “For this election, we have met each voter two or three times. Such an approach has not been seen since 1952,” he said.

Reacting to allegations made by BJP Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagendran, the minister said the DMK would respond only to evidence-based accusations.

On the registration of a case against Minister K N Nehru, Raghupathi said action was taken in accordance with court directions and expressed confidence that no wrongdoing had occurred.

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He also said financial assistance under the state’s women’s entitlement scheme had been extended to 1.31 crore eligible women, excluding economically well-off households.