M. K. Stalin

DMK workers jailed under MISA during the Emergency

After the DMK government's dismissal, many party workers including M. K. Stalin were jailed in Madras Central Prison under MISA.

Karunanidhi government dismissed; President's rule imposed

During the Emergency the Union government dismissed the DMK ministry and imposed President's rule in Tamil Nadu.

Vaiko founds the MDMK after split from DMK

Expelled from the DMK, Vaiko founded the Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK).

Kalaignar Veettu Vasathi Thittam to replace huts

The DMK government launched a scheme to convert thatched rural huts into permanent concrete houses over six years.

AIADMK retains power in 2016

Winning a second term in a row, the AIADMK became the first party in power in Tamil Nadu to be returned to office since 1984.

Death of M. Karunanidhi

Former Chief Minister and DMK president M. Karunanidhi died in Chennai and was buried at Marina Beach after a High Court ruling.

M. K. Stalin elected DMK president

M. K. Stalin was elected unopposed as president of the DMK, succeeding his father M. Karunanidhi.

DMK alliance sweeps 2019 Lok Sabha election in Tamil Nadu

The DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance won 38 of the 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu Day first observed on 1 November

The Palaniswami government began observing 1 November as Tamil Nadu Day; in 2022 the DMK government moved it to 18 July.

Ungal Thoguthiyil Muthalamaichar grievance department

The new DMK government set up a department to resolve within 100 days the petitions Stalin had collected during his election campaign.

DMK wins 2021 election; M. K. Stalin becomes Chief Minister

The DMK-led alliance won the 2021 Assembly election and M. K. Stalin was sworn in as Chief Minister for the first time.

Free bus travel for women in town buses

Among his first orders as Chief Minister, M. K. Stalin made travel free for women in ordinary state-run town buses.

Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam doorstep healthcare launched

The state launched a doorstep healthcare scheme for screening and treating non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

Priests of all castes appointed to state temples

The government appointed trained archakas from many castes, including non-Brahmins, to temples under the HR and CE department.

Assembly passes NEET exemption bill

The Assembly passed a bill to admit students to medical courses on Class 12 marks instead of NEET, and re-passed it after the Governor returned it.

Kalaignarin Varumun Kappom health camps relaunched

Stalin revived the Varumun Kappom preventive health camps of Karunanidhi's time, with 1,250 camps a year across the state.

Illam Thedi Kalvi launched

A volunteer-led programme was launched to help school children recover learning lost during COVID-19 school closures.

Innuyir Kaappom: free emergency care for accident victims

The state began paying for the first 48 hours of emergency treatment of all road accident victims in Tamil Nadu, including in private hospitals.

Naan Mudhalvan skill development scheme launched

Naan Mudhalvan, a state scheme offering students skills training and career guidance, set out to reach about 10 lakh young people annually.

44th Chess Olympiad in Mamallapuram

India hosted the Chess Olympiad for the first time, at Mamallapuram near Chennai, with Tamil Nadu organising it at short notice.

Pudhumai Penn scheme for college girls

The state began paying Rs. 1,000 a month to girls from government schools who go on to higher education.

Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme launched

Free breakfast for children in government primary schools began in Madurai and was later extended to all government primary schools.

Governor R. N. Ravi walks out of the Assembly

Governor R. N. Ravi left the Assembly after it resolved to record only the government-prepared address, which he had departed from.

Keezhadi heritage museum opens

A museum displaying finds from the Keezhadi excavations was opened near the site in Sivaganga district.

Kalaignar Centenary Library opens in Madurai

A large state-run public library named after M. Karunanidhi was opened in Madurai.

Kalaignar Magalir Urimai Thogai launched

The state began paying Rs. 1,000 a month to more than a crore women heads of families.

Kalaignar Centenary Bus Terminus opens at Kilambakkam

To ease pressure on Koyambedu, a new long-distance bus terminus was opened at Kilambakkam on the southern fringe of Chennai.

Kalaignar Kanavu Illam housing scheme

A rural housing scheme announced in the 2024-25 budget aimed to build eight lakh concrete houses and make Tamil Nadu hut-free by 2030.

Tamil Nadu Global Investors Meet 2024

The DMK government held the third Global Investors Meet in Chennai, focusing on electronics, electric vehicles and renewable energy.

DMK alliance wins all 39 Lok Sabha seats

The DMK-led INDIA bloc won all 39 Lok Sabha seats in Tamil Nadu; the AIADMK and BJP, contesting separately, won none.

Kallakurichi illicit liquor deaths

Methanol-laced illicit liquor killed more than 60 people in Kallakurichi district.

Tamil Pudhalvan scheme for college boys

Stalin launched Rs. 1,000 a month for boys from government schools who go on to higher education, modelled on Pudhumai Penn.

Udhayanidhi Stalin becomes Deputy Chief Minister

Sports Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, son of M. K. Stalin, was elevated as Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Sivagalai finds push back the dating of iron in Tamil Nadu

Radiometric dates from Sivagalai in a state report pushed iron use in Tamil Nadu back to 3345 BCE, a claim that sparked broad debate.

Dispute over NEP, three-language policy and school funds

Tamil Nadu refused to sign the PM SHRI agreement or adopt the three-language formula, and the Union withheld Samagra Shiksha funds.

Mudhalvar Marundhagam low-cost pharmacies

Stalin inaugurated 1,000 'Chief Minister's pharmacies' selling generic and other medicines at discounts of up to 75 percent.

Joint Action Committee on fair delimitation meets in Chennai

Chief Ministers and leaders from several states met in Chennai at Stalin's call to oppose delimitation based only on population.

Supreme Court rules against Governor's withholding of bills

The Supreme Court held that Governor R. N. Ravi acted illegally in withholding assent to ten re-passed bills and set timelines for Governors.

Kalaignar Kaivinai Thittam for artisans

Tamil Nadu launched its own credit-linked subsidy scheme for artisans in about 25 trades after declining to join the PM Vishwakarma scheme.

Ungaludan Stalin service camps

Stalin launched 10,000 camps to deliver over 40 government services and take petitions at people's doorsteps, starting in Chidambaram.

Nalam Kaakkum Stalin health camps

Health screening camps covering many medical specialties were rolled out across Tamil Nadu by Chief Minister Stalin.

Thayumanavar doorstep ration delivery

Ration items began to be delivered to the homes of over 21 lakh senior citizens above 70 and persons with disabilities.

Anbu Karangal support for orphaned children

The state began paying Rs. 2,000 a month to children who have lost their parents, to support their schooling.

Tamil Nadu Assured Pension Scheme announced

State employees were promised an assured pension of half their last-drawn pay by the Stalin government, a scheme close to the old pension.

Ulagam Ungal Kaiyil free laptops for college students

Stalin launched a scheme to distribute 20 lakh laptops to students of government colleges, with 10 lakh in the first phase.

TVK wins most seats in 2026; Vijay becomes Chief Minister

In its first election the TVK became the largest party with 108 seats, and C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister with the support of allies.