What Is ‘Oraniyil Tamil Nadu’? DMK’s Mega Outreach Campaign Ahead Of 2026 Assembly Polls

With the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on the horizon, political activity is intensifying across the state. In a strategic move aimed at energising its grassroots network and consolidating public support, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) has launched a massive state-wide outreach programme titled “Oraniyil Tamil Nadu”—translated as “Tamil Nadu as one entity”.

What Is ‘Oraniyil Tamil Nadu’?

The 45-day campaign, officially flagged off by Chief Minister MK Stalin this week, is being touted as the DMK’s largest mobilisation drive ahead of the elections. The effort is aimed not just at voter engagement, but also at projecting party unity and showcasing the achievements of the Dravidian Model of governance, as per India Today.

The campaign is designed to cover all 234 assembly constituencies with teams reaching out to nearly two crore households across the state. It launched simultaneously from four corners of Tamil Nadu.

At the DMK general council meeting in Madurai, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin unveiled a bold membership target as part of the party’s Oraniyil Tamil Nadu campaign. He called on party cadres to ensure that at least 30 percent of voters in every polling booth across the state become DMK members ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections

DMK cadres—ranging from MPs and MLAs to district secretaries and party veterans—have been instructed to go door-to-door, engage in street meetings, and conduct rallies. The agenda includes enrolling new members, highlighting welfare schemes under the DMK rule, and countering what the party calls the "anti-Tamil policies" of the BJP-led Union government including neglect of Keeladi excavations and delays in dispersing educational funds.

CM Stalin: "Unity Is Our Strength"

Chief Minister Stalin has described Oraniyil Tamil Nadu as a mission to "unite Tamil Nadu beyond caste, religion, and political divisions." In a post on social media platform X, he wrote: "To protect the soil, language, and pride of Tamil Nadu, transcending caste, religion, and politics, let #TamilNadu triumph as one!"

Stalin has been personally engaging with people during his district tours and has been receiving feedback from the ground through local leaders. “The people of Tamil Nadu want the Dravidian model to continue,” he said in a message shared after speaking with party workers in Tiruppur.

Opposition Hits Back: “DMK In Panic Mode”

While the DMK is portraying the campaign as a show of unity and strength, opposition parties are unconvinced. AIADMK leaders and supporters of actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) have dismissed the campaign as a sign of nervousness, reported NDTV.

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