Stalin unveils Karl Marx statue in Chennai, Reaffirms commitment to progressive ideals

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday unveiled a statue of Karl Marx , the German philosopher and political theorist whose ideas laid the foundation for socialism and communism worldwide. The statue has been installed at the Connemara Public Library in Chennai.

Stalin had announced the decision to install the statue in the Tamil Nadu Assembly in April 2025 , stating that the Dravidian model government intended to honour Marx as a global revolutionary leader . The statue was erected at a cost of ₹85.80 lakh .

Flanked by his cabinet colleagues, the Chief Minister paid floral tributes after unveiling the statue. In a post on social media, Stalin said the installation symbolised Tamil Nadu’s commitment to progressive and egalitarian values . Linking Marx’s ideology to the state’s governance philosophy, he said the Dravidian model draws strength from progressive ideas to resist inequality and domination.

“We draw strength from progressive ideas, no matter where they come from. When forces of domination attempt to prevail, we resist them,” Stalin said, describing this approach as the essence of the Dravidian model.

Leaders from several political parties attended the event, including CPI(M) Tamil Nadu Secretary P Shanmugam, CPI Secretary M Veerapandian, VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan, MDMK chief Vaiko , and Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K Selvaperunthagai , reflecting broad support from left-leaning and regional parties.

The unveiling of the statue is seen as both a symbolic and political statement , underlining the DMK government’s ideological alignment with social justice, equality, and progressive thought .