BJP-AIADMK join hands, again: Can the alliance dethrone DMK in 2026 Tamil Nadu elections?

Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced BJP and AIADMK will jointly contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu election. (Courtesy: X | @AmitShah)

The inevitable happened on Friday. Senior BJP leader and Union Home Minister Amit Shah tied the loose ends with former partner AIADMK and announced the revival of the alliance at a press conference in Chennai. The alliance for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election was a dire need for both parties and it involved removal of K Annamalai as the BJP state president and electing a new state president, Nainar Nagendran, for his proximity to the AIADMK.

Evidently, the AIADMK has scored the lead by getting rid of Annamalai, who had crossed roads with the AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami since he took charge of the party unit in 2021. Though many of his party functionaries were keen on reviving the alliance, Palaniswami and other leaders in the party were reluctant to deal with Annamalai who had made disparaging remarks about AIADMK leaders.

The 2024 Lok Sabha polls have clearly indicated that on their own the two parties could do very little and only end up splitting the anti-DMK votes. The only way AIADMK can get back to power in the state is through a strong alliance, while for BJP to get its foothold in the state it needs the AIADMK. Therefore, Annamalai had to be sacrificed.

Nainar Nagendran being an old AIADMK man, coordinating with the alliance partner becomes easier for the BJP. While both BJP and AIADMK are strong in western regions of the state, Nagendran, hailing from Tirunelveli and belonging to the dominant Thevar community of the southern region, is expected to make the south stronger for the alliance.

Palaniswami is the leader of the alliance and the chief ministerial candidate. Shah promised that there would be no interference in the matters of AIADMK by the BJP and that there were no conditions and demands from either side. “AIADMK had no conditions and demands. We will not interfere in the internal matters of the AIADMK. This alliance is going to be beneficial for both NDA and AIADMK,” he said at the presser.

The common enemy is the DMK and consolidating the anti-DMK votes would work in a big way for the alliance. It has definitely made the coming polls tougher for the ruling DMK, which also has to battle anti-incumbency issues.

AIADMK and Palaniswami have clearly got the upper hand in the alliance. Now the party at the grassroots has to strive hard to return to power in Tamil Nadu, the only way to ensure survival of the party. Palaniswami has a herculean task at hand to motivate cadres. He also faces the challenge of losing the anti-BJP votes.

Having revived the alliance it would have to attract other smaller parties that would add up the caste arithmetic. In the horizon is a new entrant actor Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, which is picking up considerable youth following. It is also targeting the Anti-DMK and anti-BJP votes share.

Now the question remains what is next for Annamalai. Shah refused to be drawn into a discussion on that. Annamalai and Palaniswami were seated on either side of Shah at the press conference and the latter was seen all smiles.

But, in a post in X (formerly Twitter), the Home Minister indicated a national posting awaiting Annamalai. “The Tamil Nadu BJP has received a nomination for the post of state president only from Shri @NainarBJP Ji. As the President of the Tamil Nadu BJP unit, Shri @annamalai_k Ji has made commendable accomplishments. Whether it is carrying the policies of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji to people or the programs of the party from village to village, Annamalai Ji's contribution has been unprecedented. The BJP will leverage Annamalai Ji's organisational skills in the party's national framework,” Shah said.

The Tamil Nadu BJP has received a nomination for the post of state president only from Shri @NainarBJP Ji.As the President of the Tamil Nadu BJP unit, Shri @annamalai_k Ji has made commendable accomplishments. Whether it is carrying the policies of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji to
Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 11, 2025

The BJP is hoping for a coalition government in case the AIADMK-led combine comes to power. Seat-sharing talks within the NDA might witness more drama as smaller parties such as the TMC, PMK, Puthiya Tamizhagam press their claims.