M.K. Stalin resigned as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister on Wednesday, May 7, 2024, along with his entire cabinet, paving the way for a new government formation. This follows the DMK-led alliance’s significant losses in the Lok Sabha elections, where they secured only 22 seats out of 39 in Tamil Nadu, a substantial decline from their 38 seats in 2019. The AIADMK alliance won 10 seats, and the BJP alliance secured 7.
The resignation was submitted to Governor R.S. Bhaskar at the Raj Bhavan. Stalin stated he accepted responsibility for the electoral defeat, despite the alliance’s overall performance being better than the national trend. He emphasized the defeat was not due to the government’s performance, citing the implementation of various welfare schemes like the Kalaignar Mahalir Urimai Thittam (women’s entitlement scheme).
The DMK suffered losses in several key constituencies, including Dharmapuri, where party treasurer Duraimurugan was defeated. Several Union and State Ministers also lost their seats. The AIADMK experienced a resurgence, winning all eight seats in the western region.
Stalin indicated that a detailed analysis of the election results would be conducted to understand the reasons for the defeat. He expressed confidence that the DMK would bounce back and continue to serve the people of Tamil Nadu.
A new Chief Minister will be appointed following the Governor’s consultations. The AIADMK is likely to be invited to form the government, with Edappadi K. Palaniswami as the frontrunner for the Chief Minister’s post. The BJP is also expected to play a role in the new coalition government. The swearing-in ceremony is anticipated to take place soon. The outgoing cabinet consisted of 34 ministers, including Stalin. The election results represent a major shift in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, ending the DMK’s dominance.
