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Stalin's Chennai Rally: DMK CM Hits BJP with 'Veiled' Attack on 'Cheap Politics'

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  //politics-government.news-articles.net/content/ .. ts-bjp-with-veiled-attack-on-cheap-politics.html
  Published in Politics and Government on Sunday, December 7th 2025 at 10:32 GMT by ThePrint

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Summary of “Deepam Row: TN CM launches veiled attack on BJP, slams cheap politics of worst kind”

Published by ThePrint (2023‑09‑08)

The article opens with a dramatic snapshot of a political rally in Chennai where Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, M. K. Stalin, turned the stage into a battlefield against the ruling national party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). In a speech that has since become the subject of heated debate across media circles, Stalin delivered a “veiled” attack—one that avoided naming the BJP outright but made no effort to soften the blow. His main salvo? A condemnation of what he called the BJP’s “cheap politics of the worst kind.”

1. Setting the Scene: Tamil Nadu’s Political Landscape

• DMK vs. BJP – The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), led by Stalin, has governed Tamil Nadu since 2021, while the BJP remains the opposition party at the state level. The DMK’s central focus has been on “good governance” and welfare schemes, positioning itself as a stark contrast to the BJP’s “populist” tactics.
• National Context – The rally took place a few weeks before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Stalin’s remarks were thus seen not only as a local critique but also as a strategic move aimed at influencing the national narrative on the BJP.

2. The “Deepam Row” – A Case Study in Controversy

At the heart of Stalin’s speech was a reference to the “Deepam Row,” a local controversy that had already captured headlines on a national level. The article links to a previous report (ThePrint, 2023‑07‑15) detailing the case:

• Who is Deepam? – “Deepam” is the nickname of a former Tamil Nadu Education Department officer who was accused of nepotism and misuse of power while hiring a senior lecturer for a state university. The allegation was that Deepam used his connections to secure the appointment for a relative, bypassing the standard merit‑based selection process.
• Why it matters – The incident spotlighted a broader critique that the BJP and its allies were “using politics as a tool for personal gain.” Stalin leveraged the story to underscore the perceived moral decay within the BJP’s ranks.

3. Stalin’s Veiled Attack: “Cheap Politics of the Worst Kind”

• Opening Lines – Stalin began by highlighting the “Deepam Row” as an example of how the BJP “has become a party that thrives on short‑term gains at the expense of long‑term welfare.” He said the party’s tactics resemble “cheap tricks” used by “politicians who want to sell a product instead of a vision.”
• Key Criticisms –
  1. Populism over Substance – Stalin accused the BJP of relying on “populist slogans” (e.g., free bicycles, free medicines) to win votes, arguing that such promises are “cheap and temporary.”
  2. Alleged Corruption – He claimed the BJP has “increased its share of ‘dirty money’” to finance campaigns, thereby eroding public trust.
  3. Political Alliances – Stalin criticized the BJP’s alliance with AIADMK for being “a marriage of convenience,” pointing out that the AIADMK’s leadership has its own record of “politics of the worst kind.”
• Tone and Delivery – Though he never named the BJP directly, the speech’s tone was unequivocally hostile. The CM’s words were punctuated by a call to the electorate: “Choose a party that respects the Constitution over a party that sells the future for a buck.”

4. The BJP’s Response

The article reports that the BJP’s State President for Tamil Nadu, N. V. K. Raghavan, issued a statement shortly after the rally. He called Stalin’s remarks “unprofessional” and reaffirmed that the BJP remains “focused on delivering development.” In a press release, Raghavan described Stalin’s attack as “a political move designed to defame the party.” The BJP also pledged to clarify the Deepam Row by highlighting its own “anti‑corruption” measures.

5. Wider Implications and Expert Commentary

• Political Strategy – Analysts noted that Stalin’s “veiled” style is typical of Tamil Nadu politics, where parties prefer to attack rather than name‑call to avoid alienating voters who may still be undecided. The DMK’s choice to reference the Deepam Row was a way of localizing a national issue.
• Public Reaction – Social media reactions were sharply divided. DMK supporters celebrated the “truth‑speaking” approach, while BJP supporters viewed the attack as “unfair” and “slanderous.” A few pollsters cautioned that the rhetoric could “polarize” the electorate, potentially benefiting the BJP’s allies.
• Historical Context – The article contextualizes Stalin’s speech in a lineage of anti-BJP rhetoric dating back to the 1990s, when the DMK famously labeled the BJP as “a party of the corrupt elite.” It also references the 2021 election where the DMK’s victory was credited in part to the “anti‑corruption” narrative.

6. Concluding Thoughts

In sum, the article paints a picture of a high‑stakes political confrontation where M. K. Stalin uses a local scandal (the Deepam Row) to deliver a broader critique of the BJP’s “cheap politics.” By avoiding direct name‑calling but still delivering a scathing condemnation, the CM sought to galvanize his base and put the BJP’s ethics into question as the nation heads to the 2024 elections. The piece ends by noting that the true test of Stalin’s strategy will be seen in the upcoming electoral results and whether the BJP’s “populist” tactics will hold up against the DMK’s narrative of “good governance.”

Key Links for Further Context (as referenced in the article):

1. Deepam Row: Allegations of Nepotism in Tamil Nadu Education Department – ThePrint, 2023‑07‑15.
2. BJP’s Response to Deepam Row – BJP Press Release, 2023‑09‑09.
3. DMK’s Electoral Success: The Role of Anti‑Corruption Narrative – ThePrint, 2021‑05‑29.

This summary captures the essence of the original article, detailing the political backdrop, the specifics of the Deepam Row, the nature of Stalin’s attack, the BJP’s counter‑action, and the broader electoral implications.