Madurai (Tami Nadu): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the ruling DMK in Tamil Nadu, accusing it of rampant corruption and asserting that the BJP, in alliance with the AIADMK, will come to power in the state in the 2026 Assembly elections.

Speaking at a rally in Madurai, Shah also expressed confidence that the BJP would form the government in West Bengal the same year.

“The DMK government in Tamil Nadu has crossed all limits of corruption,” Shah alleged while addressing party workers.

He claimed the state government had diverted Central funds intended for nutrition kits.

“They committed a huge scam by handing over the ₹450 crore nutrition kits provided by the Central government to a private company, and deprived the poor of food,” he said.

Shah also targeted the MK Stalin-led government over alleged irregularities in sand mining.

“The DMK government committed a sand mining scam to the tune of ₹4,600 crore, forcing the poor to buy sand at inflated prices so the ruling party could mint money,” he alleged.

He further raised the issue of the alleged Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (Tasmac) scam, pegging it at ₹39,000 crore.

“That amount could have been used to build two additional rooms in every school in Tamil Nadu,” he said.

However, proceedings by the Enforcement Directorate under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in the Tasmac case were stayed by the Supreme Court last month.

The Tamil Nadu government had challenged the ED’s move, calling it unconstitutional and an overreach of federal authority.

“I have a long list of scams committed by the MK Stalin government, but I don't want to waste time elaborating on each one of them,” Shah said.

Referring to the 2023 Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, in which over 60 people died, Shah accused the DMK government of “corruption that resulted in the catastrophe.”

‘DMK has failed to fulfil promises’

Shah also criticised the Stalin government for “not delivering on 60% of its election promises.”

“Mr Stalin, I dare you to tell people how many promises you made in your poll manifesto in the last elections you have fulfilled,” he said.

Says BJP-AIADMK alliance will come to power

Referring to recent electoral gains in Odisha, Haryana, Maharashtra and Delhi, the former BJP president said, “The NDA alliance of the BJP and the AIADMK is going to form a government in Tamil Nadu next year. I understand the pulse of the people and can say that the people of Tamil Nadu will dethrone the DMK in the next elections.”

Credits Modi for Operation Sindoor

Shah also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and political resolve, referring to the recent Operation Sindoor, a series of precision strikes targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan.

He recalled the 2016 Uri attack, the 2019 Pulwama bombing, and the recent Pahalgam attack in April, crediting Modi for authorising strong retaliatory actions.

The BJP has hailed the strikes as a demonstration of Modi’s decisive leadership, though opposition parties have accused the government of claiming credit for the armed forces' operations.