Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman calls for smooth functioning of NDA in T.N.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday (August 30, 2025) called for the coordinated and smooth functioning of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the State in order to bring about a regime change in the 2026 Assembly polls.

“I request all of you to support the successful functioning of the coalition, help it in serving people’s needs. Let us not worry about small rifts. There are mature leaders in the alliance. Let us have the conviction and discipline to bring about a regime change, which is what Tamil Nadu wants,” she said, speaking at an event organised to mark the 24^th death anniversary of G.K. Moopanar, founder of the Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar).

“In the 2026 polls in Tamil Nadu, there is a need for a transformational change, and we all have the responsibility to bring about this change. Let us all stand united as a coalition and take this goal forward. The Tamil citizens are asking for it. They are saying they do not want a society of drugs and alcohol destroying their families,” Ms. Sitharaman said.

‘A national leader’

She hailed Moopanar as a national leader with great stature, and said she has great respect for his words.

“Moopanar got an opportunity to become Prime Minister once. But it was not possible, and we all know who was responsible for blocking that opportunity,” Ms. Sitharaman said. “The same group, which has been talking about Tamil culture and identity, did not support a Tamil politician, Moopanar, to become Prime Minister. This is a betrayal to Tamils,” she said.

Leaders pay tribute to G.K. Moopanar
| Photo Credit:
S.R. Raghunathan

“Let us be united and strive to ensure that the NDA comes to power in 2026 in Tamil Nadu. This would be our biggest homage to Moopanar,” Ms. Sitharaman said.

She also participated in a welfare distribution programme at the G.K. Moopanar Memorial in Teynampet.

AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami said Moopanar had made a mark for himself nationally. TMC (Moopanar) president G.K. Vasan also called for united efforts to bring about a regime change in the State in the 2026 Assembly polls.

Others who paid tributes to Moopanar include Nainar Nagendran, BJP Tamil Nadu president, K. Annamalai, the party’s former State president, A.C. Shanmugam, founder-president of New Justice Party, Ravi Pachamuthu, president of Indiya Jananayaka Katchi (IJK) Party, N.R. Dhanapalan, president of Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi, L.K. Sudhish, treasurer of DMDK, and Tamilaruvi Manian, founder of Kamarajar Makkal Katchi (KMK).

Ms. Sitharaman also paid tributes to former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Kamaraj at the Kamaraj Memorial in Guindy, besides paying floral tributes to former Governor late La. Ganesan at his residence in Chennai.

Earlier, she also interacted with the newly appointed office bearers of the BJP Tamil Nadu.