Ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has vehemently opposed the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) announcement to implement a three-language formula from 2026-27, viewing it as an attempt to impose Hindi on non-Hindi speaking states. Stalin, representing the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party, criticized the policy as hypocritical, arguing that the Central government has failed to support Tamil language education adequately while pushing for Hindi. In response, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan defended the initiative, stating that it promotes multilingualism and is not compulsory Hindi. The exchange escalated with Stalin accusing the Central government of withholding ₹2,200 crore (approximately $267 million USD) in education funding as a means of coercion against Tamil Nadu. He emphasized that the state will not accept any form of language imposition, asserting that Tamil Nadu's existing two-language policy has proven successful in fostering educational outcomes and inclusivity. The clash highlights deeper tensions between state and central authorities regarding language policy and educational equity in India.