Leader of the Opposition and DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin chaired a party consultation meeting in the Madurantakam area of Chengalpattu district on 20 September 2026, as part of preparations for the upcoming Madurantakam Assembly constituency by-election.
Addressing party workers and functionaries at the meeting, Udhayanidhi Stalin took aim at former allies of the DMK such as the Congress, VCK who had subsequently moved away from the alliance. He alleged that some had left citing concerns over the possibility of President’s Rule and Governor’s Rule being imposed.
“All those who were in an alliance with us, one by one they left. What did they tell us and go, what did they tell to the people? That President’s rule must not be imposed, that because of President’s rule Governor’s rule must not be put in place. This is what they told our leader and left. Some just ran away without even informing, overnight, stealthily. You will know who I am referring to, you also know what state they are in now. Because this person directly went to PM candidate. If we take them back, will you let us be?” he said.
Udhayanidhi then referred to the formation of the present government and said the process had been shown live on television.
“How was this government formed, it was all shown live on TV,” he said.
He also revived the “sofa model regime” criticism against the government, claiming that even leaders of parties that had previously been part of the DMK alliance were using the phrase.
“Today we say ‘sofa model regime’, everyone says it, even that party’s leaders, those who were in an alliance with us, they themselves are saying, ‘We don’t know why they are calling it as sofa model regime, a sofa arrived because we had placed order for it’,” Udhayanidhi said.
He then questioned the timing of the alleged delivery of the sofa, linking it to the day after the election counting and the arrival of the Chief Minister.
“How is it that it arrives exactly the day after counting, exactly 10 minutes before Chief Minister arrived? The same kind of sofa was delivered to all the offices. Looks like they bought it at the same shop, same company. The size may be different – 3 seater for some, 5-seater for some, single-seater for some,” he said.
Udhayanidhi also claimed that some MLAs did not receive the sofa and suggested that they had continued to support the DMK.
“But sadly for a few, the sofa was never delivered. I don’t know what that secret is, those MLAs said they are with DMK only. Some are whining because of that heartburn also, you all know who it is,” he said.
“சைஸ் வேணா வேற இருக்கலாம், ஆனா எல்லாருக்கும் ஒரே கம்பெனி தான்..” சிலர் ஆதரவு கொடுத்துட்டு வரோம்னு சொல்லிட்டு போனாங்க, ஆனா சிலர் சொல்லாம கொள்ளாம நைட்டோட நைட்டா திருட்டு தனமா ஓடிப்போயிட்டாங்க… இன்னும் சில பேருக்கு சோஃபாவே வரல.. த.வெ.க கூட்டணி கட்சிகளை கிண்டலடித்த உதயநிதி… pic.twitter.com/ZjkQgUoFgi
— Polimer News (@polimernews) September 21, 2026
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