'I will be CM': Why BJP isn't fretting over EPS denying a power-sharing deal in Tamil Nadu

Union Home Minister and BJP leader Amit Shah with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami during a press conference aanouncing the alliance for the 2026 elections. (File: PTI)

The AIADMK's recent clarification that it would have no power-sharing with the BJP if the alliance wins the Tamil Nadu elections scheduled to be held in 2026 has come as a sign of a clash between the two parties which reunited in April this year after parting ways ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

On Thursday, former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai countered the remarks by AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, saying that the BJP will be part of the government if the alliance wins the 2026 polls.

"Union Home Minister Amit Shah has said several times that the BJP will be part of the government. The alliance (with the AIADMK) should continue, and we want to defeat the DMK. The Union home minister has also said that we will have a common minimum programme which will be acceptable to both the parties," Annamalai told reporters.

His remarks came a day after Palaniswami ruled out any power-sharing formula with the BJP, claiming that the AIADMK, as the leader of the NDA in the state, will win a majority on its own and that he will be the Chief Minister.

"There will be no power sharing. EPS will be the Chief Minister. The AIADMK will form the government. Period," Palaniswami said. "It is not going to be an alliance government, but the alliance will form the government. Who is leading this alliance? The AIADMK. Then who will decide about power sharing? We will take the decision," he added.

While Palaniswami's public assertion and its attempt to show that it calls the shots in the NDA in the state may appear to suggest a disagreement, the posturing may actually be part of a strategic calculation and a bid to prevent any backlash from its core Dravidian core vote base.

Behind this posturing is the realisation that it is tough for the AIADMK to publicly endorse a coalition government ahead of elections. The BJP is still viewed as an outsider by large sections of Tamil Nadu and the AIADMK's tie-up with the party has given ammo to the ruling DMK to target the Opposition party.

The Indian Express reports that Palaniswami's aggression is part of an understanding between the AIADMK as well as the BJP's central leadership. As per the report, EPS has conveyed to Shah in private that a power-sharing arrangement could be considered in the case of a win, if "at a minimal level".

There were several reasons that may have prompted the AIADMK's attempts to reset the public perception. The announcement of the alliance by Union Home Minister Amit Shah while Palaniswami sat silently was one signal of concern for the AIADMK cadre.

The presence of Annamalai, the then outgoing party chief who is seen by many in the AIADMK as the reason behind the fallout ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, by Shah's side on the dais also raised eyebrows.

"We will fight the elections under the leadership of Edappadi ji," Shah said announcing the alliance. While Shah's signal was clear, the presence of another BJP leader who mentioned a "coalition government" only added to the concerns.

The DMK's jibes questioning why Shah stopped short of declaring Palaniswami as the CM candidate aggravated the confusion further. A senior RSS leader from the state who is privy to the negotiations between the two parties revealed as much.

"AIADMK cadres won’t be happy if there is talk of a coalition government. EPS told Shah that while he would convince his party leaders to agree to power-sharing in case of a poll victory, announcing the same prior to elections would be suicidal. The BJP has agreed to this, though some dissonance may have been caused because of how Shah’s statements were interpreted," the RSS leader was quoted as saying by The Indian Express.