Letters to The Editor — January 26, 2026

Poll talk in the South

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s advocacy in recent rallies in Kerala and Tamil Nadu to boost the NDA’s prospects ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections in these States needs comment. That a “double engine” sarkar (same government at the Centre and State) will bring more development is baseless and misleading. It is a fact that the southern States are mostly governed by non-BJP parties but figure in the top performing States in the country. The concept of a double engine government is odd as India is a union of States. The ‘double engine’ concept almost sounds like a veiled threat — that States have to be at the Centre’s mercy.

Kshirasagara Balaji Rao,

Hyderabad

The ‘single-engine’ DMK government has done far better than the ‘double-engine’ governments in BJP-ruled States, as is evident from the high human development indices and growth in the southern State. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin’s witty riposte, that Mr. Modi’s ‘double engine’ is a ‘dabba engine’, is one that will resonate with the people.

G. David Milton,

Maruthancode, Tami Nadu