Chennai: In a significant political development, Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced on Friday that the AIADMK will lead the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. During a press conference in Chennai, Shah confirmed that AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) will be the chief ministerial candidate for the alliance in the state. He described the AIADMK-BJP relationship as a "natural partnership."
This announcement marks the revival of a partnership that had fractured in September 2023 following a bitter fallout between the two parties, primarily due to controversial remarks made by Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai. Annamalai’s comments about iconic Dravidian leaders like C.N. Annadurai and J. Jayalalithaa had deeply offended AIADMK leadership, resulting in a public rift. The alliance, once active in the 2019 and 2021 elections, dissolved ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
The split proved costly for both parties as they suffered setbacks in the 2024 general elections. The BJP had earlier won four seats in the 2021 Assembly elections while AIADMK had secured 66. Shah’s visit to Chennai was marked by strategic meetings with key BJP leaders, including K. Annamalai, Union Minister L. Murugan, and senior figures such as Tamilisai Soundararajan and Pon Radhakrishnan. He also held discussions with BJP and RSS leaders, including S. Gurumurthy of Thuglak magazine.
Political observers noted that reconciliation efforts had already begun weeks earlier. EPS and senior AIADMK leaders, including S.P. Velumani and K.P. Munusamy, met Shah in New Delhi, indicating a thaw in relations. Sources revealed that AIADMK leadership had requested the BJP high command to consider removing Annamalai to facilitate the alliance. Subsequently, on April 4, Annamalai declared he would no longer seek any official party role, easing tensions.
Senior RSS functionaries reportedly played a pivotal role in reviving the alliance, urging the BJP’s central leadership to rebuild ties with AIADMK — a major Dravidian party and the BJP’s best shot at gaining a foothold in Tamil Nadu. With the ruling DMK as their primary political rival, a renewed AIADMK-BJP alliance positions the NDA as a serious contender in Tamil Nadu’s political battleground.
As the 2026 elections approach, both parties are expected to begin groundwork, including campaign coordination, candidate selection, and constituency-level planning. Analysts believe the united front may tap into anti-incumbency sentiment and consolidate voter bases across the state. This realignment is likely to reshape the political narrative in Tamil Nadu.
Shah's visit is both strategic and symbolic. He is likely to hold consultations with leaders individually and in groups to assess organizational preparedness and grassroots sentiment. The NDA's roadmap for the 2026 polls will be shaped during this visit.
In addition to alliance talks, Shah will oversee the ongoing internal election process for the post of State BJP president, with polls scheduled for April 12, 2025. While the official eligibility criteria stipulate that aspirants must have served as active members for three terms and been with the party for at least a decade, sources said the high command may relax these rules. When K. Annamalai was appointed president in 2021, the party relaxed all eligibility norms.
During his high-level engagements, Shah is also expected to discuss with state unit senior BJP leaders, RSS functionaries, and ideologues. Although the meeting itinerary for the state BJP leaders remains unclear, insiders said these discussions aim to gather insights into ground realities and strategize the party's expansion in the Dravidian heartland.
On the sidelines of alliance talks, Shah is scheduled to address the press in the city, where he is expected to launch a scathing critique of the ruling DMK's alleged corruption and misgovernance. "During his interaction with the media, Shah will condemn the ruling DMK and declare that the NDA will form the government in Tamil Nadu in 2026," a BJP leader said.
As the countdown to the 2026 Assembly elections begins, the focus will be on how effectively this renewed alliance translates into electoral momentum and reshapes the state’s political future.
