Chennai, August 30, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Tamil Nadu Police have downgraded the security cover of former Chief Minister and DMK president M.K. Stalin from Z+ to Z category following a periodic assessment of the threat perception involving protected political leaders, officials said.
The decision was taken after a review by the Core Cell Security Wing at the State Secretariat. Chief Secretary Sai Kumar, Home Secretary K. Manivasan, Director General of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal and other senior officials examined intelligence inputs and Stalin’s protection requirements during the exercise.
Under the revised arrangement, Stalin will continue to receive substantial police protection. Security personnel will be deployed across the front, core and rear sections of his convoy, supported by pilot, escort, backup and close-protection vehicles during travel and public engagements.
Officials described the move as a rationalisation of the security deployment rather than a withdrawal of protection. The number of personnel assigned to Stalin has not been disclosed.
The revised security arrangement will remain in place until the next assessment, unless fresh intelligence inputs prompt an earlier review.
Security cover for VIPs and VVIPs in Tamil Nadu is reviewed every six months. The assessment takes into account intelligence reports, the nature and immediacy of threats, public exposure, travel patterns and individual protection requirements. Depending on the findings, a security category can be retained, enhanced or reduced.
The downgrade comes months after Stalin and the DMK suffered a major electoral setback in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election. The party, which had won 133 seats in 2021, was reduced to 59 seats, while actor-politician C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged as the largest party with 108 seats.
Stalin also lost Kolathur, his home constituency, which he had represented for three consecutive terms. TVK candidate V.S. Babu defeated him with 82,997 votes against Stalin’s 74,202, a margin of 8,795 votes. Stalin has challenged Babu’s election before the Madras High Court.
Despite losing power and his Assembly seat, Stalin continues to head the DMK and remains a prominent Opposition leader in Tamil Nadu.
Officials stressed that the security revision was based solely on a professional threat assessment and formed part of the routine review of protected persons across the state, with no connection to Stalin’s political position or election performance.
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