New Delhi, April 11, 2025 – The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have announced a formal alliance to contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) banner. The decision, revealed at a joint press conference on Friday, positions AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami as the coalition’s state-level leader.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, addressing the media, confirmed the partnership, stating, “AIADMK and BJP will contest the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu together as NDA.” He elaborated, “These elections will be contested under the leadership of PM Modi on a national level and under the leadership of AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami on the state level.” Shah dismissed speculations of preconditions set by AIADMK, asserting, “There was no demand” from the party.
Highlighting the historical ties between the two parties, Shah noted, “AIADMK has been part of the NDA since 1998, and PM Modi and former CM and AIADMK chief J. Jayalalithaa had worked together in the past.” Responding to queries about the timing of the alliance, he remarked, “It took time because this alliance is now permanent,” signaling a long-term commitment.
The announcement follows a pivotal meeting in March between Palaniswami and Shah, laying the groundwork for renewed collaboration. The alliance comes a day after Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai opted not to seek re-election as state unit president, a move seen as paving the way for smoother coalition dynamics.
On March 28, Annamalai framed the 2026 elections as a critical opportunity to unseat the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), citing allegations of corruption and a “deteriorating law and order situation” in Tamil Nadu. “The DMK should be brought down from power, and no vote should get wasted by the votes getting shifted between different parties,” he said, pointing to the state’s fragmented political landscape. “Tamil Nadu, as of now, has a five-cornered contest. Nowhere else in Indian politics do you see a five-cornered contest.”
Annamalai deferred alliance decisions to the BJP’s central leadership, stating, “With respect to the alliance, you have to understand that for a national party like the BJP, a disciplined party, it is our national leadership that will decide. So, we have committees, we have parliamentary boards which look into a lot of angles before they make the decision.”
The AIADMK-BJP partnership marks a strategic realignment aimed at consolidating opposition votes against the DMK. As Tamil Nadu’s political landscape braces for a fiercely contested election, the alliance signals a united front to challenge the incumbent government’s dominance.
.png)
The opinions posted here do not belong to 🔰www.indiansdaily.com. The author is solely responsible for the opinions.
As per the IT policy of the Central Government, insults against an individual, community, religion or country, defamatory and inflammatory remarks, obscene and vulgar language are punishable offenses. Legal action will be taken for such expressions of opinion.