Diwali's Political Fireworks: Udhayanidhi's Greetings Spark BJP-DMK Row in Tamil Nadu
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- October 21, 2025
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The air in Tamil Nadu, thick with Diwali cheer, soon crackled with political tension as Udhayanidhi Stalin, the state's Youth Welfare and Sports Development Minister and scion of the ruling DMK, extended his festive greetings. What appeared to be a simple, goodwill message quickly ignited a fresh ideological skirmish between the DMK and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), turning the festival of lights into a backdrop for a heated political debate.
Udhayanidhi Stalin's Diwali message featured a heartwarming photograph of him alongside his wife, lighting traditional lamps, emblematic of the festival.
His accompanying caption wished everyone a 'safe, peaceful, and prosperous' Diwali. However, the conspicuous absence of any specific religious invocations, such as 'Ayodhya' or 'Ram', in his seemingly inclusive greeting, became the immediate flashpoint for the BJP's state president, K. Annamalai.
Annamalai swiftly seized the opportunity, unleashing a barrage of criticism that accused the DMK of blatant hypocrisy and opportunistic politics.
He highlighted Udhayanidhi's earlier controversial remarks calling for the 'eradication' of Sanatana Dharma, a statement that had already fanned the flames of a national debate. Annamalai’s argument was sharp: how could a leader who advocated for the eradication of Sanatana Dharma then extend greetings for a festival deeply rooted in Hindu traditions, without acknowledging its religious context?
The BJP leader's critique didn't stop there.
He lambasted the DMK for what he perceived as a selective and convenient approach to festivals. Annamalai questioned the DMK's messaging, suggesting that their 'safe, peaceful, and prosperous' wishes were a shallow attempt to appease without genuinely embracing the religious sentiments associated with Diwali.
He contended that the DMK's actions demonstrated a clear double standard, celebrating a Hindu festival while simultaneously attempting to undermine the very principles it represents.
Predictably, the DMK was quick to retort. They accused the BJP of needlessly politicizing every event and twisting Udhayanidhi's inclusive message into a divisive political tool.
DMK spokespersons reiterated their party's commitment to secularism and asserted that their greetings were intended for all citizens, irrespective of their religious beliefs. They countered that the BJP's focus on specific religious terms was an attempt to communalize a universally celebrated festival and distract from more pressing issues.
This latest exchange underscores the persistent ideological chasm between the DMK, with its Dravidian and secularist roots, and the BJP, which champions Hindu nationalist principles.
It reveals how even seemingly innocuous festive greetings can be weaponized in the high-stakes arena of Tamil Nadu politics, where cultural and religious identities frequently intertwine with political narratives, turning celebrations into battlegrounds for competing worldviews.
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