Udhayanidhi Stalin slams police over ban on Periyar, Anna rally permission
Synopsis
Tamil Nadu's opposition leader Udhayanidhi Stalin has gone public with a pointed allegation: that the state police denied permission for DMK rallies honouring Periyar and Annadurai — two icons the ruling government itself routinely cites as ideological heroes — while reportedly allowing right-wing events. The contradiction, he argues, reveals a troubling double standard at the heart of Tamil Nadu's current political order.
Key Takeaways
Udhayanidhi Stalin criticised Tamil Nadu police on 14 September 2026 for denying permission for DMK-organised rallies marking the birth anniversaries of Periyar and Annadurai .
The DMK had planned a rally in Erode on 17 September to mark Periyar's birth anniversary.
A second rally at Gudiyatham , organised by the DMK and allied parties, was proposed to commemorate Annadurai's birth anniversary.
Udhayanidhi alleged that right-wing groups were reportedly granted permission for their events while Dravidian commemorations were blocked.
He demanded an immediate reversal of the police decision and accused the government of political arrogance and double standards.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader and Tamil Nadu's Leader of the Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin on Monday, 14 September 2026, sharply criticised the state police for reportedly denying permission for rallies planned to mark the birth anniversaries of social reformer Thanthai Periyar E.V. Ramasamy and former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai. The opposition leader alleged that the same authorities had allowed events organised by right-wing groups in the state, amounting to what he described as a double standard.
What Was Planned and What Was Denied
According to Udhayanidhi Stalin, the DMK had planned a rally in Erode — the birthplace of Periyar — on 17 September to mark the social reformer's birth anniversary. A second rally was proposed at Gudiyatham to commemorate the birth anniversary of Annadurai, popularly known as 'Perarignar Anna', to be organised jointly by the DMK and several other political parties. Both events were reportedly refused police permission.
Udhayanidhi's Allegations
In a post on social media, Udhayanidhi Stalin questioned why police — who function under the direct authority of the Chief Minister — had allegedly permitted rallies by right-wing organisations while blocking programmes honouring two figures central to Tamil Nadu's Dravidian political tradition. He called the denial 'unacceptable' and accused the government of 'political arrogance' and a 'submissive approach' towards saffron politics. The opposition leader also questioned whether the police were acting independently or yielding to external pressure, raising doubts about the state government's professed commitment to the Dravidian ideological legacy.
The Broader Political Context
The controversy carries significant symbolic weight. Periyar and Annadurai are foundational figures of the Dravidian movement — Periyar's rationalist, self-respect ideology and Annadurai's mass political mobilisation shaped modern Tamil Nadu's identity and social policy. Udhayanidhi pointed out the contradiction in the Chief Minister's repeated invocations of both leaders as ideological guides while, he alleged, allowing their commemorations to be blocked. He asked publicly 'whom the government was attempting to appease' by taking this stance.
Demand and Outlook
Udhayanidhi Stalin demanded an immediate reversal of the police decision, insisting that the proposed rallies should be permitted to proceed 'peacefully in accordance with established regulations.' He said the people of Tamil Nadu were watching the government's actions closely. This dispute is likely to intensify ahead of the anniversary events on 17 September, with the DMK and allied parties expected to mount further pressure on the state administration to grant approval.
Point of View
Forcing the government to either reverse course (handing him a win) or defend a position that sits uncomfortably with its own Dravidian branding. The deeper question is whether this reflects a structural shift in how Tamil Nadu's police apparatus calibrates political permissions — a question the state's civil society and press have not yet fully interrogated.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Tamil Nadu police deny permission for DMK rallies marking Periyar and Annadurai anniversaries?
The reasons cited by the police have not been officially detailed in available reports. Udhayanidhi Stalin alleged the denial reflected a double standard, with right-wing groups reportedly being granted permission for their own events while Dravidian commemoration programmes were blocked.
Where and when were the DMK rallies planned?
The DMK had planned a rally in Erode — Periyar's birthplace — on 17 September to mark his birth anniversary, and a separate rally at Gudiyatham to commemorate the birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai, organised jointly with other political parties.
Who are Periyar and Annadurai, and why do their anniversaries matter in Tamil Nadu?
Thanthai Periyar E.V. Ramasamy was a pioneering social reformer whose rationalist and self-respect movement shaped the Dravidian political tradition. C.N. Annadurai, known as 'Perarignar Anna', was the founder of the DMK and Tamil Nadu's first Chief Minister. Their legacies remain central to Tamil Nadu's social and political identity.
What has Udhayanidhi Stalin demanded?
Udhayanidhi Stalin has demanded that the police immediately grant permission for both rallies to proceed peacefully under established regulations. He has also called on the government to publicly explain why right-wing events were allegedly allowed while Dravidian commemorations were denied.
What is the political significance of Udhayanidhi Stalin's criticism?
As the DMK's Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu, Udhayanidhi Stalin's public attack highlights a contradiction between the ruling government's stated reverence for Dravidian icons and the reported actions of its police apparatus. The controversy could escalate ahead of the anniversary events on 17 September.
