Stalin reacts after Aiyar suggests Tamil Nadu CM could lead Opposition: 'I know my stature'

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin indicated the importance of his role in state politics.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin said he was aware of his “stature” and indicated the importance of his role in state politics.

Responding to a question at the CNN News 18’s Town Hall on whether he will take a national role to head the INDIA block if an opportunity unfolds, Stalin said, “As Kalaignar (his father and late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi) says 'En uyaram Enakku theriyum' (I know my stature). I will be within it.”

In 1997, Karunanidhi declined an offer to become Prime Minister and then stated: “I know my height.” He had then indicated that he would focus on state politics, conforming to his stature.

Earlier, at the Town Hall event on Monday, Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar had remarked that Stalin could lead the opposition parties.

Aiyar on Monday told PTI also that MK Stalin is "best-suited" to be the convenor of the INDIA bloc, asserting that a smaller partner in the saddle would be a better assurance of alliance unity than a dominant one.

“Under the present circumstances, with 2029 as the objective, no one is better suited to lead the INDIA bloc than ‘Dalapathy’ MK Stalin,”  Aiyar said in a phone interview to PTI from Chennai.

Explaining his endorsement, Aiyar argued that only a cohesive and strong INDIA bloc could secure victory in the 2029 general elections — a prerequisite, he suggested, for Rahul Gandhi to become prime minister. According to him, Stalin has the stature and administrative experience to strengthen the alliance at the national level.

He added that governance in Tamil Nadu could be managed by Stalin’s son, Udhayanidhi Stalin, and his team if the party wins the upcoming state polls.

Meanhwile, Stalin said while the BJP attempts to destabilise elected governments, "our Dravidian model has delivered inclusive growth and record progress in Tamil Nadu".

The 2026 Assembly election in Tamil Nadu would be a straight fight between a state that stood for social justice, state autonomy, secularism and democratic values, and the NDA, which thrives on intimidation, coercing defections through raids, and the misuse of institutions, he said at the event.

“Tamil Nadu has defeated such forces before, and it will do so again,” Stalin said.