PM Modi hails 25 years of ties with Tamil Nadu's CMs
Synopsis
Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked 25 years of Centre-Tamil Nadu engagement on 11 October 2026, naming all six Chief Ministers he has worked with — from Jayalalithaa to C. Joseph Vijay — and reaffirming his commitment to cooperative federalism in a bilingual English-Tamil post.
Key Takeaways
PM Modi posted in both English and Tamil on 11 October 2026 , signalling deliberate outreach to Tamil-speaking audiences.
He named all six Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers he has worked with over 25 years : Jayalalithaa, Karunanidhi, O.
Panneerselvam, Edappadi K.
Palaniswami, MK Stalin, and C.
The list spans both AIADMK and DMK governments, framing the engagement as non-partisan.
Joseph Vijay , the newest Chief Minister and founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam , is publicly welcomed into the Centre's cooperative framework.
Modi explicitly tagged the X accounts of Panneerselvam, Palaniswami, Stalin, and Vijay , making it a direct address across party lines.
Across a quarter-century and six Chief Ministers, Prime Minister Narendra Modi says his commitment to Tamil Nadu has never wavered — and on Sunday, 11 October 2026, he made that point publicly, naming every leader he has worked with from J. Jayalalithaa to the newly elected C. Joseph Vijay.
The post, shared in both English and Tamil, is notable for its sweep: Modi lists six Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers across ideological lines — AIADMK and DMK alike — framing the relationship not as partisan alliance but as an institutional commitment to cooperative federalism. 'In the last 25 years, I have always accorded topmost importance to national progress and cooperative federalism,' he wrote.
From Jayalalithaa to Vijay: the arc of 25 years
The six names Modi invokes span the full political spectrum of Tamil Nadu's recent history. J. Jayalalithaa and O. Panneerselvam led the AIADMK governments, while M. Karunanidhi and M. K. Stalin represented the DMK. Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who led the state until the DMK's return to power, is also named. The newest addition to the list — C. Joseph Vijay, the actor-turned-politician who leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (Tamil Nadu Victory Party) — signals that a new chapter of Centre-state engagement has opened under a figure who came to politics from cinema.
The bilingual nature of the post — repeated line by line in Tamil — carries its own message. Addressing Tamil-speaking audiences in their own language on a national platform is a deliberate act of cultural acknowledgement, particularly significant given the longstanding sensitivity around linguistic identity in Tamil Nadu.
Why 'cooperative federalism' is the operative phrase
Modi's invocation of cooperative federalism is not casual. The phrase describes a governance philosophy in which the Centre and states function as partners rather than in a hierarchy — coordinating on infrastructure, welfare schemes, and economic policy rather than competing. By anchoring his remarks in that framework, Modi positions 25 years of Centre-Tamil Nadu engagement as a structural continuity, not the product of any single political alignment.
The explicit tagging of @OfficeOfOPS (O. Panneerselvam), @EPSTamilNadu (Edappadi K. Palaniswami), @mkstalin, and @TVKVijayHQ (C. Joseph Vijay) turns the post into a direct address to each leader — a public handshake across party lines. Stalin's DMK and Vijay's TVK are rivals of the BJP in Tamil Nadu; including them underscores the message that the PM's commitment is to the state, not the electoral arithmetic.
Whether this outreach translates into concrete policy momentum for Tamil Nadu — infrastructure funding, industrial investment, or welfare transfers — is the real test. Modi's words today mark a starting line, not a finish.
Point of View
He insulates the BJP's Tamil Nadu relationship from the volatility of any single electoral cycle. The inclusion of C. Joseph Vijay — a new, non-traditional political figure — suggests the Centre is moving quickly to establish working ties with a government that could reshape Tamil Nadu's political landscape. The bilingual format is not cosmetic; it reflects an awareness that linguistic respect is a prerequisite for political credibility in the state. The real indicator will be whether this public goodwill is matched by budgetary allocations and project clearances in the months ahead.
NationPress
11 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers did PM Modi mention in his post?
PM Modi named six Chief Ministers: J. Jayalalithaa, M. Karunanidhi, O. Panneerselvam, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, MK Stalin, and the current Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.
Who is C. Joseph Vijay and why is he Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister?
C. Joseph Vijay, widely known as the actor Vijay, founded the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party and became Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu after winning the state assembly elections, marking the entry of a major film star into state-level executive politics.
What does cooperative federalism mean in the context of PM Modi's post?
Cooperative federalism refers to a governance model where the Central government and state governments work as partners on development, infrastructure, and welfare — rather than the Centre dictating to states. Modi used the phrase to frame 25 years of Centre-Tamil Nadu engagement as a partnership across governments.
Why did PM Modi write the post in both English and Tamil?
Writing in Tamil is a direct cultural acknowledgement of the state's strong linguistic identity. Tamil Nadu has historically been sensitive to the imposition of Hindi, so addressing residents in their own language on a national platform carries political and diplomatic weight.
Did Modi tag MK Stalin and Vijay in this post despite being political rivals?
Yes. Modi tagged the official accounts of O. Panneerselvam, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, MK Stalin, and C. Joseph Vijay — leaders from parties that are rivals of the BJP in Tamil Nadu — reinforcing his stated position that his commitment is to the state's development regardless of party alignment.
