Key political voices to decode the state’s pre-election momentum
India Today will host the Tamil Nadu Round Table in Chennai on February 11, bringing together a distinguished cross-section of political leaders, policymakers, analysts, and public voices to examine the state’s political, economic, and social landscape ahead of the upcoming Assembly Elections in the state.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will set the tone of the event by sharing his perspective on governance and the state’s developmental priorities. His address is expected to outline Tamil Nadu Government’s long-term vision, with a focus on inclusive growth, welfare-led development, and the state’s role within India’s federal framework.
The India Today Tamil Nadu Round Table will convene key political voices from across the spectrum to decode Tamil Nadu’s shifting electoral and ideological landscape. Leaders from the AIADMK, DMK, BJP, Congress and TVK will engage in a candid debate on campaign narratives, Hindutva, language politics, and voter sentiment – offering competing perspectives on the forces shaping the state’s political future.
A dedicated women’s panel featuring Khushbu Sundar of the BJP, Apsara Reddy of the AIADMK, and Dr. Kanimozhi NVN Somu from the DMK will focus on the evolving role of women in politics – examining leadership, representation, and participation in Tamil Nadu’s public life. The conversation will be further enriched by perspectives from political commentator Swaminathan Gurumurthy, Editor of Thuglak who will reflect on political thought, and the idea of social justice in contemporary India.
The interplay between popular culture and politics will be explored in a dedicated session titled ‘The Vijay Factor’, bringing together representatives from Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, the AIADMK, the DMK, and the BJP to examine celebrity influence and its electoral impact in Tamil Nadu.
The BJP’s evolving prospects in southern India will be debated by former Tamil Nadu state president K. Annamalai and Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, offering contrasting perspectives on strategy, expansion, and regional politics.
Key governance priorities will also be in focus, with School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and IT Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan discussing reforms in education and the state’s approach to digital governance.
Dayanidhi Maran, Deputy Leader of the DMK, will also address a session, presenting his perspective on welfare politics, governance priorities, and the economic choices shaping public policy. The daylong event will culminate with addresses by Edappadi K. Palaniswami – Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and General Secretary of the AIADMK and Udhayanidhi Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Together, they will outline their views on national politics, economic priorities, and the policy pathways that could shape Tamil Nadu’s future.