STALIN GETS A SLOGAN

The census and an election: that's 2026 in Tamil Nadu. Renewed fears, as well as politics, over delimitation play well for DMK—for now

- By Kavitha Muralidharan

IS IT A STATE-SPECIFIC ISSUE? A regional one concerning only the South? Or one that can tilt India's axis? From the national to the local, all lines intersected in a high-voltage visitation last week. Union home minister Amit Shah was in town, predicting saffron rule over Tamil Nadu next year. His speech in Madurai bristled with invocations of military strength, allegations of DMK corruption and calls for an Opposition resurgence. Amid the fire and brimstone, though, one silence rang out loud: no mention of delimitation.