Chennai: M.K. Stalin, the third son of M. Karunanidhi who took over the reins of the DMK on Tuesday, lambasted the BJP in his very first speech as party president.

"The Narendra Modi government is trying to paint the nation in the saffron colour. Let's teach it a lesson," Stalin told the DMK's general council, thus putting to rest speculation about a possible alliance with the BJP.

The rumours of a possible tie-up with the BJP, which the DMK had dumped 15 years ago, had started after the Dravidian party invited BJP president Amit Shah to a meeting organised on August 30 in memory of Karunanidhi, the five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu who passed away on August 7 at the age of 94.

Stalin, who had been working president of the DMK for more than a year as his father remained incapacitated, was declared unanimously elected as party chief on Tuesday. S. Duraimurugan, DMK principal secretary, took over Stalin's responsibility of party treasurer.

"Congratulations and best wishes to @mkstalin for being elected President of the DMK @arivalayam," Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee tweeted.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi was also among those who congratulated Stalin.