People support DMK because it is a good force, says Minister

Refuting TVK leader Vijay’s remarks describing the DMK as an “evil force”, Minister for Housing, Prohibition and Excise S. Muthusamy told reporters on Wednesday that it was only because the DMK was a good force that people extended overwhelming support and voted for it.

The Minister said it was for the people to decide, and that he believed Mr. Vijay was taking decisions independently.

He said that while most governments faced public dissatisfaction towards the end of their five-year term, the DMK continued to receive a stronger public response than when it first assumed office.

Mr. Muthusamy attributed this to Chief MinisterM.K. Stalin’s people-centric approachand the effective implementation of welfare schemes. “People have accepted both the DMK and its governance, and are clear about bringing the party back to power in 2026 with Mr. Stalin as Chief Minister,” he said.

Dismissing allegations that welfare measures were election-driven, he said initiatives such asfree bus travelwere introduced purely in the public interest, and had been appreciated even by leaders from other States.

Referring to the observance ofThanthai Periyar’s 52^nd death anniversaryand former Chief MinisterM.G. Ramachandran’s (MGR) 38^th death anniversary, the Minister said tributes were paid to both leaders.

He added that Mr. Stalin had always shown respect for MGR, and that paying homage on remembrance days without bias was a collective responsibility. “There is no hidden agenda, as both leaders share the same remembrance day,” he said.

Responding to a query on whether the gesture was linked to the TVK invoking MGR, Mr. Muthusamy said no individual or party could “claim” MGR, and that the DMK remained firmly committed to its ideology.

He further said the DMK women’s conference,‘Vellum Tamil Pengal’, would be held in Palladam on December 29.

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