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As Tamil Nadu prepares for one of the most closely watched Assembly elections in recent years, NDTV will bring together the state’s most influential political leaders on a single stage at the NDTV Tamil Nadu Summit on January 30, 2026 in Chennai – setting the tone for the first major, high-impact political conversation ahead of the 2026 polls.
At a moment when Tamil Nadu’s political choices are set to carry national consequences, the summit will place government and opposition face-to-face, offering voters a rare, wide-ranging, and authoritative conversation on governance, performance, and the road ahead.
The summit will open with a keynote address by M.K. Stalin, Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, reflecting on governance priorities, economic direction, and the state’s political trajectory.
Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Leader of the Opposition and the principal challenger in the 2026 elections, will headline key opposition conversations, bringing the government’s record under sharp political scrutiny.
The day-long conclave will feature senior leaders from the ruling DMK government, including Udhayanidhi Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu; Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce; P.T.R. Palanivel Rajan, Minister for Information Technology; Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, Minister for School Education; and Ma. Subramaniyan, Minister for Health and Family Welfare.
Opposition and national political voices will include Karti Chidambaram, Member of Parliament; Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, MP and Deputy General Secretary, DMK; and senior leaders from across the AIADMK, BJP, and Congress, including Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, H. Raja, Kovai Sathyan, and Laxmi Ramachandran, ensuring a broad and contested political spectrum on stage.
A key highlight of the summit will be a special evening conversation with Kamal Haasan – actor, political leader, and cultural icon – on cinema, politics, and the enduring legacy of the Dravidian movement, followed by a forward-looking dialogue with Udhayanidhi Stalin on the future of Dravidian politics and leadership in Tamil Nadu.
Across the day, NDTV will anchor substantive conversations examining the Dravidian economic model, industrial and investment strategy, education and skills, healthcare, social justice, women in politics, and the evolving nature of electoral politics in the state.
The summit will also feature policymakers, administrators, and public intellectuals, including Brijendra Navneet, IAS, IT Secretary; Darez Ahmed, IAS, Managing Director, Guidance Tamil Nadu; eminent economist Surjit Bhalla; public health leader Dr. Saumya Swaminathan; and senior journalist N. Ram, Director, The Hindu Publishing Group, adding policy depth and institutional perspective to the political debates.
Commenting on NDTV’s editorial focus on Tamil Nadu, Shiv Aroor, Managing Editor, NDTV, said,‘This summit places the biggest political questions of Tamil Nadu where they belong – in front of voters. By bringing government and opposition together, NDTV is strengthening its election engagement in the South with serious journalism, real conversations, and a clear voter-first approach.’
T.M. Veeraraghav, Executive Editor, NDTV, who has closely tracked southern politics for decades, added, ‘Tamil Nadu has always shaped India’s political imagination – and today its choices increasingly shape national leadership and policy. This summit reflects NDTV’s long-term editorial commitment to the South, and to journalism that understands the region’s political depth and influence.’
The NDTV Tamil Nadu Summit will be broadcast live across the NDTV Network and digital platforms, marking the formal launch of NDTV’s comprehensive, on-ground coverage of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.