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Highlights
– Ideological Critique: S. Gurumurthy brands the DMK “dishonest” for hijacking Dravidian ideals and Tamil pride, calling it a “stolen identity” rooted in failed racialism.
– Financial Warning: In an exclusive interview, Gurumurthy cautions that “money power alone can’t save DMK,” amid allegations of massive election spending.
– Societal Shift: Temples and spirituality are rebounding in Tamil Nadu, eroding the DMK’s anti-religious foundations.
– Modi’s Praise: The PM’s tributes to Tamil kings like Rajaraja Chola are hailed for authentic cultural reconnection, challenging DMK’s narrative.
– Election Implications: With 2026 polls approaching, Gurumurthy predicts the DMK’s “collapsed wicket” could invite a decisive push from rivals.
Tamil Nadu’s Political Landscape in Flux: Thuglak Editor S. Gurumurthy Warns DMK’s Reliance on Financial Might Won’t Ensure Survival
Chennai, September 12, 2025 – In a candid interview that has sent ripples through Tamil Nadu’s political corridors, veteran journalist and Thuglak magazine editor S. Gurumurthy issued a stark warning to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK): its heavy dependence on financial clout alone cannot safeguard the party’s future amid shifting societal tides and ideological erosion.
Gurumurthy, a prominent RSS ideologue known for his incisive commentary on Dravidian politics, emphasized that the DMK’s “stolen” Dravidian identity and deviation from its roots have left it vulnerable. “Money power alone can’t save the DMK,” he told The Federal in an exclusive conversation, underscoring that the party’s fortunes hinge on reclaiming authenticity rather than fiscal firepower.
DMK’s Ideological Betrayal: A “Stolen Identity”
Gurumurthy’s critique builds on his recent broadsides at the India Today Conclave South 2025, where he accused the DMK of betraying both its Dravidian origins and Tamil cultural ethos. He described the party’s Dravidian label as a “borrowed construct” derived from outdated colonial-era racial theories, which the DMK has exploited to distort Tamil pride.
Praising Periyar E.V. Ramasamy—the architect of the Dravidian movement—as an “honest thinker” for challenging caste hierarchies, Gurumurthy lambasted the DMK for abandoning these ideals. “The DMK is a dishonest party, neither loyal to Dravidian nor to Tamil identity,” he declared, pointing to its promotion of English-medium education as a move that has weakened indigenous Tamil culture.
He argued that the DMK’s anti-Hindi agitations in the 1960s masked a deeper dishonesty, projecting Hindi as an “imposition” while Tamil Nadu’s youth increasingly embrace it for practical benefits. “Dishonesty will expose. The DMK can’t keep people ignorant for too long,” Gurumurthy added.
Money as a Crutch, Not a Cure
The Thuglak editor’s latest remarks spotlight the DMK’s alleged overreliance on financial resources to maintain electoral dominance—a tactic he says is unsustainable. In Tamil Nadu’s hyper-competitive political arena, where cash-for-votes scandals have long plagued elections, Gurumurthy warned that fiscal muscle cannot mask ideological voids.
This comes against a backdrop of accusations that both the DMK and its rival All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) have poured billions into voter inducements. Historical data from the 2016 Assembly elections, for instance, revealed expenditures exceeding ₹6,000 crore by the DMK and ₹10,000 crore by the AIADMK, with up to 90% funneled into bribes.
Gurumurthy, however, sees a broader societal shift: temples and spirituality are resurging in Tamil Nadu, undermining the atheistic Dravidian edifice Periyar once championed. “What Periyar wanted destroyed has come back. The DMK is on a wicket which has already collapsed; it’s only about who will give the push,” he remarked.
Modi’s Tamil Outreach: A Counter-Narrative
In contrast, Gurumurthy lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s efforts to reconnect Tamil Nadu with India’s spiritual and cultural heritage. Initiatives honoring Tamil luminaries like Rajaraja Chola and Rajendra Chola, he said, transcend Dravidian politics and foster genuine Tamil pride. “Modi is bridging Tamil Nadu with India’s deeper roots,” Gurumurthy noted, suggesting this could force the DMK into an uncomfortable choice between its Dravidian facade and authentic Tamil identity.
As the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections loom, Gurumurthy’s words signal deepening cracks in the Dravidian duopoly. With regional fatigue setting in and national parties like the BJP eyeing inroads, the DMK’s path forward remains precarious.
The full interview, aired by The Federal, offers deeper insights into Gurumurthy’s worldview on Tamil Nadu’s evolving political dynamics.
