A deceptive attempt to mobilise school students for a DMK political event was exposed in Pollachi after an alert parent of a student from Samathur Municipal School noticed a party banner at the Lorry Association Mandapam — the very location his son had mentioned visiting for a supposed “Naan Mudalvan Career Guidance Project.”
This incident took place on June 14. According to Hindu Munnani functionary Balachander while speaking with Organiser team, the parent, while passing the venue, observed a DMK political meeting underway — prompting immediate suspicion. He contacted the school headmaster, Gopalakrishnan, over the phone and enquired about the event, asking whether permission had been obtained from the parents.
The headmaster responded that a local councillor and municipal officials had requested the school to send Plus 1 and Plus 2 students to what was described as the “Naan Mudalvan Career Guidance Project.” He admitted to the parent, “Based on their request, I had sent the students to attend without informing the parents. But now, after your telephone call, I realise it was a different meeting — a political one. So we called them back. It was my mistake. I did not check the exact nature of the event.”
When the students arrived at the venue, they found it was a DMK Youth Wing seminar titled “Dravidam in All Directions,” aimed at enrolling students into the party’s youth forum. A DMK flag was also installed at the site. The main speaker was the controversial and rabidly Hindu-phobic Mathivathani, who spoke on spreading Dravidianism across Tamil Nadu.
The ‘Naan Mudalvan’ scheme is a state-run career development initiative for students. But in this instance, young teens were misled — believing they were being taken to a career guidance session, they were, in fact, made to attend a political event, which also included a membership enrolment drive.
Upon learning the truth, Hindu Munnani functionaries rushed to the venue and brought the children back, strongly condemning the school management. Some parents alleged that their children had been used for political activities without their consent or knowledge. Similar complaints emerged from parents of students in Pollachi Municipal Higher Secondary School, SRMS Boys’ Higher Secondary School (government-aided), and a few other institutions.
The school headmaster faced a volley of criticism from parents, who were furious that their children had been taken to a political meeting. They questioned how the school could send teenagers to such an event without seeking parental consent. Parents also rejected the headmaster’s justification that the students had given their consent.
Headmaster Gopalakrishnan was heard telling a parent, “We were told it was a guidance workshop for higher education. I even asked for the names of interested students. But upon arriving, I saw DMK flags and political messages instead. So I took the students back to school and then sent them home. This was a big mistake. I believed the words of a ward councillor. We assure you it won’t happen again.”
Former TN BJP chief K Annamalai in a statement criticised the DMK for taking students from Samathur Rama Ayyangar Municipal Higher Secondary School to a political event of DMK duping them of attending a career guidance event. In Tamil Nadu students were used to clean toilets, use them as masons in school construction works (video enclosed), sweeping the floors of school premises, fetching drinking water from nearby areas in pots. It treats the students in a step motherly attitude. Many of the schools lack basic infrastructure. Now to show crowd, it took them to the event. I strongly condemn this”.
கோவை மாவட்டம் பொள்ளாச்சி சமத்தூர் ராமஐயங்கார் நகராட்சி மேல்நிலைப்பள்ளி மாணவர்களை, நான் முதல்வன் திட்டம் என்று பொய் கூறி திமுக கட்சி நிகழ்ச்சிக்கு வர வற்புறுத்தியிருக்கிறார் அந்தப் பகுதி திமுக கவுன்சிலரின் கணவர்.
கட்டிட வேலை செய்ய வைப்பது, கழிப்பறைகளை கழுவச் செய்வது, பள்ளியை…
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) June 15, 2025
Critics argue that knowing the potential of student power, the DMK duped school students into attending a meeting—without obtaining their parents’ consent. They also allege that Dravidian ideologies, including the ‘no god’ theory, were promoted, rather than the promised career guidance event. Literally, the students were taken for a ride.
The DMK is adept at enlisting students for its Hindi agitation stirs and as launch pads for various political protests. There have been similar incidents in the past as well.
In August 2023, a competition topic as part of the commemorative centenary function of the late Chief Minister Karunanidhi sparked criticism. Various competitions were organised for school and college students under the banner ‘Kalaignar 100’. This initiative triggered controversy, as the programmes were subtly designed to influence students with the party’s ideology, raising concerns about the politicisation of education.
Hindu Munnani State President, Kaadeswara Subramanium, strongly condemned what he perceives as the DMK’s attempt to indoctrinate students with its political views through school and college events. In a press release, he stated: “The School Education Department has announced competitions for school and college students on the occasion of the centenary celebrations of former Chief Minister Karunanidhi. It is reported that District Collectors are pressuring government staff to conduct these events. It is to be noted that the topic chosen for these competitions resembles the themes used in DMK training camps, which has shocked parents and educators.”
Locals pointed out that with the divisive theories of Dravidian ideology increasingly being exposed and becoming part of public discourse, which is likely to have a ripple effect on the party’s support base, DMK strategists appear to be targeting young teens to influence them early—using the pretext of career development programmes.
