Nearly two years after parting ways, the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday rekindled their alliance, with Union Minister Amit Shah declaring that the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly election will be fought under the leadership of AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami.
He also slammed the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam for 'diverting' attention from key issues by raking up matters like delimitation, NEET and the 3-language policy.
The DMK criticised the AIADMK for joining hands with Bharatiya Janata Party, calling the alliance a big "betrayal of Tamil Nadu."
On a day of quick turns and twists, Shah consulted with RSS ideaologue S Gurumurthy and by late afternoon, stitched up BJP's alliance with Tamil Nadu's main opposition party AIADMK.
The two had been part of the National Democratic Alliance combine that faced the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and the state elections two years later.
"The leaders of AIADMK and BJP have decided to fight next TN Assembly polls along with allies under the NDA banner. This election will be fought at the national level under Narendra Modi's leadership and AIADMK chief Edappadi Palaniswami at state level," Shah told a press conference.
"In a way, from 1998, the AIADMK has been part of NDA alliance and for long time PM Modi ji and the great (late CM) Jayalalithaa ji had worked in national politics together. At one point of time, this alliance had won 30 out of the 39 seats in the general elections," he said about the 1998 polls.
"I am confident NDA will get massive majority and form NDA government in Tamil Nadu," Shah said.
Asked if NDA would form a coalition government if it won the 2026 polls in the state, he replied in the affirmative. Other related issues will be decided after the polls. Further, the AIADMK made no demand to join the NDA and its entry to the bloc was mutually beneficial.
Asked if expelled AIADMK leaders O Panneerselvam and TTV Dhinakaran would also be part of the NDA, as they were during the 2024 general elections, Shah said, "there won't be any of our interference in AIADMK's internal affairs".
"As far as our allies are concerned, the state units of AIADMK and BJP will decide," he said.
To a question, he alleged that the ruling DMK in the state rakes up issues like Sanatan Dharma, 3-language policy and other many such issues with the sole intention behind them being to divert away from key issues.
"The DMK government in Tamil Nadu is plagued by rampant corruption, atrocities against Dalits and women, and a complete breakdown of law and order. Under (CM M K) Stalin's leadership, the state has witnessed multiple scams including the Rs 39,000 crore liquor scam, sand mining scam, energy scam, transport scam, money laundering, nutrition kit scam, free dhoti scam, illegal raids, smuggling, and MGNREGA-related irregularities."
"The people of Tamil Nadu will vote in the upcoming elections with these issues in mind. The public is now demanding answers from Stalin and (his son and deputy CM) Udhayanidhi on corruption," the BJP leader said.
Asked about AIADMK's divergent stand on these issues, he said the matters will be discussed. If required, there will be a Common Minimum Programme.
"The NDA will take original issues to people who are aware what they are and they seek answers from DMK," he said.
Asked whether AIADMK joined the NDA after 'removing' Annamalai as they had blamed him in 2023 while snapping ties, Shah said "there is no iota of truth in this. Annamalai is state chief even today," he said, even as he was flanked by Palaniswami and Annamalai on either side.
On asked why the press conference was delayed for a about three hours, Shah indicated parleys were on as "the alliance has to go for long."
Further, he underscored that BJP takes immense pride in the Tamil language, culture, and people and holds them in high regard.
It was PM Modi who honoured Tamil Nadu's rich heritage by installing the 'Sengol' in the new Parliament building, something the DMK never even proposed. The PM launched the Kashi Tamil Sangamam and the Saurashtra Tamil Sangamam to celebrate the deep cultural ties.
"It was also under his leadership that the traditional Tamil martial art 'silambam' was included in the Khelo India initiative. PM Narendra Modi established the Central Institute of Classical Tamil with an investment of Rs 25 crore and set up a Tamil Chair at the University of Houston in the US," he said.
AIADMK snapped ties with BJP in September 2023 reportedly over Annamalai's certain remarks about late party stalwarts, including Jayalalithaa.
Meanwhile, DMK MP Kanimozhi criticised the AIADMK joining the NDA fold and called it a "big betrayal" of TN. "People of the state will give a befitting lesson to this alliance," she told reporters in Chennai.
While Palaniswami claimed of opposing various Central bills and its initiatives, he was "sitting silently" today, she said about the press conference where Shah made the announcement on alliance.
"TN CM had often said the two parties maintained contact and an alliance would re-emerge. That has turned out to be true," she added.
© 2025