In First Podcast, Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin Accuses Centre of Using Religion To Hide Shortcomings
New Delhi: Assertive and forthright, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin launched his political campaign for the general election in 2024 with a podcast titled ‘Speaking for India’.
In Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam, Hindi and English, it aims to project the successes of the ‘Dravidian model’ outside Tamil Nadu.
Like the inauguration of the DMK office in Delhi, it marks an inflexion point in the party’s bid to signal it is not just another regional party content with supporting parties for power in Delhi – but that it wishes to have its imprint nationally on any alternative contesting to defeat the BJP.
The News Minute reports that the podcast “is an extension of the chief minister’s letters to the public – Ungalil Oruvan – in the DMK mouthpiece Murasoli. Ungalil Oruvan is also the title of Stalin’s autobiography, which has been translated into English [from Tamil] as One Among You.”
‘Speaking for India’ has been produced by Populous Empowerment Network (PEN), that also looks after the DMK’s political affairs and outreach programmes. This has been founded by Stalin’s son-in-law Sabareesan.
A PEN representative told TNM, “Consider this the start of campaigning for the 2024 elections.”
By being upfront and political, the podcast, sources say, is deliberately intended as a counter to the PM’s fortnightly radio show, ‘Mann ki baat’, which centres on the PM himself. Also, within INDIA, it aims to help Stalin and the DMK carve out a space for themselves and use the Dravidian model of social justice to build recognition for what they stand for clearly.
“The purpose of this podcast series is that I, Muthuvel Karunanidhi Stalin, as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, and leader of DMK, the third-largest party in the Parliament and most importantly, as someone who is one among you, wants to speak for India,” says Stalin in the inaugural show.
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The first podcast, out on Monday (September 4), hit out at the BJP-led government’s failures since 2014. Stalin hit out at the violation of the rights of the people and the Union government's attempts to corrode the identity and rights of the states.
He charged the BJP-led government of using religion to hide its failures and shortcomings, as it had not succeeded in fulfilling poll promises or implementing welfare schemes.
He said INDIA has been formed to restore India where social justice, secular politics, socialism, equity, social harmony, state autonomy, federalism and unity in diversity thrive in their full glory.
“It is this INDIA alliance that is going to save India. If we want to prevent the whole of India from becoming Manipur and Haryana which, unfortunately fell victim to the BJP’s communal politics and hate-inciting policies, the INDIA alliance must win,” Stalin said.
The Hindu reports him saying that Tamil Nadu has not been given a single special scheme in these nine years of BJP rule. The present BJP Union government was only functioning as a vengeful body against state governments, Stalin alleged.
“They only want to destroy the sovereignty of the state governments, which are directly responsible for the welfare of the people,” he said.
The PEN representative told The News Minute: “In the future episodes, we plan to bring in guest speakers. We will also include responses to the public and media reactions to the previous episodes. Whether the episodes will air on a weekly or fortnightly basis is yet to be decided. This may also change depending on factors such as how close the elections are.”
He also said that the podcast is aimed at young students and first-time voters, with an intention of reaching them on digital platforms like Spotify, YouTube, Soundcloud and Amazon Music.
People will also be able to hear the podcast on the morning news in Tamil channels and on Stalin’s personal social media handles, TNM reported.
The DMK has been ahead in the communications game ever since it began, having its roots in the Dravidian movement and its close relationship to progressive and popular Tamil cinema. After the era of print media began to be overpowered by audio-visual media, the Sun group with cable and then a satellite TV network provided a model for other regional parties to have their own communication offer.
The podcast is the latest communication pipeline being explored by the party’s leadership.
This article went live on September fifth, two thousand twenty three, at forty-four minutes past one at night.The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
