Stalin Reaffirms Ideological Bond with Left, Slams Palaniswami’s Remarks at Cuba Centenary Event

Chennai, Aug 2025 – Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Tuesday described the DMK’s alliance with the Left parties as a partnership rooted in shared principles rather than electoral expediency. Speaking at a Communist Party of India (Marxist) event commemorating the birth centenary of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro, Stalin said he closely follows the Left’s critical opinions and acts on issues where there is agreement.

The programme, themed “Let us protect socialist Cuba! Let us thwart imperialist conspiracies! Let us celebrate Fidel Castro’s centenary,” saw Stalin underline that both the DMK and the Left are able to distinguish between criticism offered out of genuine concern and deliberate misinformation.

Taking aim at AIADMK general secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Stalin mocked his “sudden affection” for the Communists. Palaniswami had recently claimed that the Left and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) were being ill-treated within the DMK alliance and hinted they could join his front. “Respected Palaniswami, everyone doubts whether you read newspapers. Even if you do, you certainly don’t read Thikthir (the CPM’s Tamil Nadu mouthpiece). If you did, you wouldn’t have made such statements,” Stalin said with sarcasm.

Stalin emphasised that he reads Thikthir daily and listens to CPM leaders’ views during televised debates. “They don’t hold back from raising issues because they are in the alliance, and I don’t dismiss their views because they come from them. This platform reflects our clarity in principles and our mutual understanding,” he said.

Paying tribute to Cuban revolutionaries Fidel Castro and Che Guevara, Stalin called them guiding lights for progressive movements worldwide. Responding to the event’s call to resist imperialist conspiracies, he said imperialism manifests in economic as well as military forms. As an example, he cited the United States’ recent move to impose a 50% tariff on Indian imports. “The BJP government at the Centre must strongly oppose this. Prime Minister Modi should give a clear public statement,” he urged.

CPM National General Secretary M.A. Baby lauded Cuba’s resilience and its continued service to humanity despite decades of U.S. sanctions. The Republic of Cuba’s Ambassador to India, Juan Carlos Marsán Aguilera, praised India-Cuba solidarity. CPM State Secretary P. Shanmugam and CPI State Secretary R. Mutharasan also addressed the gathering, which concluded with renewed calls for strengthening anti-imperialist unity.