Madurai (Tamil Nadu), Jun 8 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday asserted that the NDA would form governments in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal and targeted the DMK regime by firing fresh “corruption” salvos, including the Rs 4,600 crore sand mining scam.

Addressing party office bearers, he hailed Madurai as a city of ‘Parivartan’ and said his party’s Karyakarta Sammelan (Workers conference) in the temple city would lead to change; of dislodging the DMK from power.

Chief Minister M K Stalin claimed that Shah cannot defeat the DMK and he is correct in a sense, he said, adding, “It is not Shah who will defeat the DMK, it is the people of Tamil Nadu who will bring about that change.” Shah said he has participated in elections across the country and understands the pulse of the people, and he is fully confident that the people of Tamil Nadu will uproot the DMK government this time.

The DMK’s corrupt rule has affected the poor, women and children in Tamil Nadu, Shah alleged, and urged his party members to resolve to dislodge the Stalin-led Dravidian party government from the seat of power.

At least two classrooms could have been built in each primary school across Tamil Nadu with Rs 39,775 crore, the size of TASMAC scam, he said.

The Enforcement Directorate had recently conducted searches in respect of the “Rs 1,000 crore TASMAC scam.” Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation, TASMAC, is a State-run alcoholic beverages corporation.

“The DMK government has crossed all limits of corruption…the DMK government was involved in a Rs 4,600 crore sand mining scam, which has severely impacted the lives of the poor.” Shah levelled allegations of scam in respect of a Centre’s Rs 450 crore nutrition kit programme and said a private firm was given contract leading to graft. Also, the Union Home Minister dared Stalin to explain if he had fulfilled all of DMK’s 2021 poll assurances.

The DMK government has proven to be ineffective, failing to deliver on even 60 per cent of the promises outlined in their manifesto. “I challenge Stalin ji to provide a clear and transparent account of the commitments they made to the people. Additionally, the rampant corruption in the sale of illegal alcohol has led to the tragic loss of many lives, particularly among the underprivileged.” Last year, in the Kallakurichi hooch tragedy, 66 persons lost their lives.

In the 2026 Assembly election, BJP-AIADMK will form the NDA government in Tamil Nadu and people will defeat the DMK. The DMK is a “100 per cent” failure government, he added.

Citing election victories in Odisha, Haryana, Delhi and Maharashtra, Shah said 2026 will be the year of transformation for Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. “In 2026, in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal, the NDA will form governments.” The BJP government at the Centre provided Rs 6.80 lakh crore in 10 years, and yet Chief Minister Stalin asks what has Centre done to Tamil Nadu. PM Modi enhanced the pride of Tamil Nadu by giving a rightful place to the “Sengol” in the Parliament.

Crime and drug trade are rising in Tamil Nadu, but CM Stalin remains indifferent, he alleged.

DMK government has the “audacity to call Lord Muruga’s Thirupparankundram hill as Sikander hill.” In southern Tamil Nadu, the DMK is promoting caste-based violence for political gains, Shah further alleged. Also, he wondered why the DMK government does not offer medical and engineering education in Tamil language.

In Pahalgam, terrorists killed innocent civilians. Under the decisive leadership of PM Modi, armed forces successfully neutralised these terrorists on their home turf. After Operation Sindoor, when the Tiranga Yatra was carried out across the country, Tamil Nadu’s participation was no less than any other part of the nation.

Shah, in his address, offered ‘pranams’ to Madurai Meenakshi Amman, and regretted that he could not speak in Tamil language. He hailed freedom fighter Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar.

On June 22, the scheduled Lord Muruga conference should be a huge success and cadres should not rest until the DMK government is ousted. When Shah mentioned the name of former state BJP president K Annamalai, there were rounds of applause from the audience, prompting the union minister to smile.

Shah, before addressing the state, district and mandal level office bearers, chaired the meeting of the state core committee of the Tamil Nadu BJP. Ahead of leading the core panel parleys, he worshipped at the Madurai Meenakshi temple. During his April visit to Tamil Nadu, Shah announced the revival of ties with the AIADMK.

In his address, BJP state president Nainar Nagendran appealed to cadres to work with determination and described the alliance with AIADMK as a “suitable alliance. Nagendran said his resolve will be to take the maximum number of MLAs to the Assembly, like a “yatra”. He hailed Shah as “India’s Iron man, another Sardar Vallabhai Patel.” Annamalai said the only goal is unseating DMK from power in the state and urged cadres to go ahead with this “sankalpa,” (resolution). PTI VGN JSP ADB VGN KH