India Today will host the Tamil Nadu Round Table in Chennai on February 11, bringing together a wide spectrum of political leaders, policymakers, analysts and public voices to deliberate on the State’s political, economic and social trajectory ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

According to a press note issued by the media company, the day-long conclave will open with an address by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, who is expected to set the tone by sharing his views on governance, welfare-led development and the state’s long-term vision. His address is likely to underline Tamil Nadu’s development priorities, with a focus on inclusive growth and the state’s role within India’s federal structure.

The India Today Tamil Nadu Round Table will feature leaders from across the political spectrum, including the DMK, AIADMK, BJP, Congress and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, as they decode the state’s evolving electoral mood. Discussions will centre on campaign narratives, language politics, Hindutva, and voter sentiment, offering sharply contrasting perspectives on the forces shaping Tamil Nadu’s political future.

A dedicated women’s panel will bring together Khushbu Sundar of the BJP, Apsara Reddy of the AIADMK and Dr. Kanimozhi NVN Somu of the DMK to examine the changing role of women in politics, leadership and representation in the state’s public life. Political commentator Swaminathan Gurumurthy, Editor of Thuglak magazine, will also share his views on political thought and the idea of social justice in contemporary India.

The intersection of cinema and politics will be explored in a special session titled ‘The Vijay Factor’, which will assess the influence of celebrity politics and its electoral implications in Tamil Nadu. Representatives from TVK, along with leaders from the AIADMK, DMK and BJP, will discuss how popular culture continues to shape political mobilisation in the state.

The BJP’s prospects in southern India will be debated by former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai and Congress MP Karti Chidambaram, who are expected to present contrasting views on strategy, expansion and the challenges of regional politics.

Governance and policy priorities will also take centrestage, with School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi and IT Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan discussing reforms in education and Tamil Nadu’s approach to digital governance. Senior DMK leader Dayanidhi Maran will address a session on welfare politics, governance choices and economic policy.

The event will conclude with addresses by Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Leader of the Opposition in the Tamil Nadu Assembly and AIADMK General Secretary, and Udhayanidhi Stalin, Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.