DMK president M.K. Stalin on Saturday said no government at the Centre could afford to ignore a State since States will be central to the future of Indian politics.

“The time has come to take along all national groups. Gone are the days when only the Hindi-speaking States are considered India. Time has ripened for achieving the dream of [former CMs] Anna and Kalaignar [Karunanidhi] to uphold our region and language,” he said in a statement.

“The DMK will raise its voice in the Assembly and in Parliament for the welfare of the people. We will also work in tandem with alliance partners to keep vigil against the rise of divisive forces. We will work to protect the interests of the State and to retrieve the rights that have been taken from us. The DMK will also evolve a strategy to co-ordinate with secular forces in other States,” he said.

Reacting to the criticism that the DMK had failed to realise its objective of capturing power in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Stalin said it had wrested 12 constituencies from the ruling party which, according to him, was an unprecedented achievement.

“Only those who are unable to digest the DMK’s performance are indulging in such criticism. I do not want to disturb their temporary happiness. We have a lot of work to do,” he said.

Mr. Stalin said the DMK alone cannot take all the credit for the victory in the Lok Sabha polls.

“The alliance partners who faced the misuse of power and evolved a strategy on the field also have a share in the victory,” he said.

Later in the day, Mr. Stalin chaired a meeting of the party’s newly-elected MPs. A resolution adopted in the meeting thanked the people of Tamil Nadu for polling 2,23,03,310 votes in favour of the DMK and its allies.

“We will win the rights of the State, work for the growth of true democracy and uphold social justice and secularism. The people are our masters,” stated a resolution adopted in the meeting.

Leader in Parliament

The meeting also elected former Union Minister T.R. Baalu as the leader of the DMK’s parliamentary party. Kanimozhi will be the deputy leader and former Union Minister A. Raja will be the party whip.

Former Union Minister S.S. Palanimanickam will be the treasurer.