By N. Sai Charan/The Hindu
Chennai, April 11 – A full year ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, the AIADMK and BJP revived their electoral ties on Friday (April 11, 2025) with Union Home Minister Amit Shah declaring that a “coalition government” would be formed after the elections. Addressing a press conference, he reiterated that the 2026 election would be fought under the leadership of AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.
The key issues in the upcoming election will be the ruling DMK’s corruption, law and order issues, and attacks on Dalits and women, Mr. Shah said, claiming that the ruling party was highlighting contentious issues such as Sanatan dharma, delimitation, NEET, and the three-language education policy to divert people’s attention.
“We [the AIADMK and the BJP] will sit and discuss and if required there will be a common minimum programme… We will go in the midst of the people by taking their real issues. I believe that people of Tamil Nadu are aware of the real issues and they will seek answers from the DMK government,” Mr. Shah said.
Corruption is the biggest issue in the State, he said. “People of Tamil Nadu are seeking answers from Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin on ₹39,000 crore liquor scam, sand mining scam, power scam, ELCOT scam, transport scam, money laundering scam, nutrition kit scam, free dhoti scam, cash-for-jobs scam, and MGNREGA scam, in addition to other scams.”
‘Stronger together’
The elections will be fought under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the national level and under the leadership of Mr. Palaniswami in Tamil Nadu. Recollecting the alliance between the AIADMK and the BJP in 1998 general elections, Mr. Shah said, “Modiji and great Jayalalithaaji have worked together in national politics.”
Later, Mr. Modi posted about the aliance on X: “Stronger together, united towards Tamil Nadu’s progress! Glad that AIADMK joins the NDA family. Together, with our other NDA partners, we will take Tamil Nadu to new heights of progress and serve the state diligently. We will ensure a government that fulfils the vision of the great MGR and Jayalalithaa Ji. For the sake of Tamil Nadu’s progress and to preserve the uniqueness of Tamil culture, it is important the corrupt and divisive DMK is uprooted at the earliest, which our alliance will do.”
Coalition government
While responding to a question on whether the AIADMK and BJP will form a coalition government if the alliance is voted to power in Tamil Nadu in 2026, Mr. Shah said, “Yes. We will form a coalition government. We will fight the elections under the leadership of Edappadiji [Edappadi K. Palaniswami].”
Asked if BJP MLAs would be part of the State Cabinet if the alliance forms the government, he said, “We will decide after winning the elections. We don’t want to leave any confusion for the DMK.” He also said the AIADMK did not place any demands and conditions for joining the alliance. “The number of seats and the distribution of ministries, after the formation of the government, will be decided by both parties along with our other partners,” he added.
Responding to a question on whether expelled AIADMK leaders O. Panneerselvam and T.T.V. Dhinakaran would also become a part of the NDA or whether he wanted a united AIADMK, Mr. Shah said, “We will not interfere in the internal affairs of the AIADMK. As far as the question of other allies are concerned, the AIADMK and BJP in Tamil Nadu will sit and decide.”
Changes in the BJP
He addressed journalists alongside Mr. Palaniswami, AIADMK leaders S.P. Velumani and K.P. Munusamy, BJP State president K. Annamalai and State president-elect Nainar Nagenthran. Mr. Shah later went to Mr. Palaniswami’s residence for tea.
Shortly before the much-delayed press conference at a star hotel in Chennai, the BJP initiated steps for a smooth transition in its State unit. Mr. Nagenthran, who was the only person to file his nomination for the post of State unit president, was set to take over the reins from K. Annamalai, who had galvanised the party to a significant extent.
Mr. Nagenthran’s elevation from the post of vice-president is expected to facilitate better relations with the AIADMK, which had walked out of the NDA in September 2023, accusing the BJP State leadership of slandering its icons. Mr. Nagendran, a former AIADMK Minister, had joined the BJP in 2017. His nomination was endorsed by Mr. Annamalai, among others.
When asked about whether Mr. Annamalai’s leadership in the State was responsible for the AIADMK’s exit from NDA in September 2023, Mr. Shah negated the suggestion and made light of it. “Even today he [Mr. Annamalai] is the State president and that is why he is sitting with me here.” He added that the internal affairs of the BJP should be left to the party.
Promoting Tamil culture
Mr. Shah listed the measures taken by the BJP government at the Centre to honour the Tamil language and culture, including the installation of a Sengol (a golden sceptre) in the Parliament, conducting Kashi and Saurashtra Tamil Sangams, and establishing Central Institute of Classical Tamil in Chennai.
In a post on X, he added: “The BJP and the AIADMK are committed to protect and promote the language, culture and heritage of Tamil Nadu. The people of Tamil Nadu are fed up with the rampant corruption of the DMK and are determined to oust the corrupt government. The BJP and the AIADMK will jointly go from village to village to awaken people to the DMK misrule and will form a government fulfilling people’s aspirations.”
Earlier in the day, Mr. Shah visited the residence of senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan, a former Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry, to pay respects to her father and veteran Congress leader Kumari Anathan, who passed away recently. Mr. Shah also held a meeting with Thuglak Editor S. Gurumoorthy for more than an hour on Friday afternoon.
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