As Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced that BJP-AIADMK will jointly contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday hailed the alliance and said "Stronger together, united towards Tamil Nadu’s progress".
Taking to X, PM Modi said, "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."
Taking a dig at "divisive" DMK, he added, "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."
Earlier in the day, while addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Chennai, Amit Shah announced the alliance alongside AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami.
“This election will be led nationally by Narendra Modi and in Tamil Nadu by EPS and AIADMK,” Shah said, addressing a gathering of BJP and AIADMK leaders.
Shah also pointed out that the AIADMK has been part of the NDA since 1998, and that Prime Minister Modi and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had worked together in the past. Asserting that the NDA partnership will be victorious, he said, “Our alliance is much stronger. I am fully confident that NDA will win a major victory and an NDA government will be formed in Tamil Nadu.”
Stating that AIADMK did not make any demands as part of the alliance, Amit Shah said, “We will discuss about seat sharing later.”
Later, taking to X, Shah stated, "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."
Attack DMK's 'corrupt rule', Amit Shah said, "They (DMK and opposition parties) are raising the issues of delimitation and NEET to distract the people… We will sit with AIADMK (since their stand on these issues is different from the BJP-led NDA) and discuss with them on these issues and if needed, there will be a common minimum programme."
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