In a strategic political development ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) formally announced their renewed alliance. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, alongside AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) and Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai, made the declaration at a joint press conference in Chennai, putting to rest weeks of speculation over a possible tie-up.
EPS, the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, will lead the alliance into the 2026 polls&mdash;firmly positioning himself as the coalition&rsquo;s chief ministerial face. This announcement marks a return to the electoral partnership the two parties have shared in previous years, most notably during the 1998 general elections when the BJP-AIADMK alliance swept 30 out of 39 Lok Sabha seats in the state.
Amit Shah, while addressing the media, underscored the historical strength of the AIADMK-BJP alliance and its roots in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) since 1998. Recalling the cooperative era between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the late Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, Shah expressed confidence in replicating past successes: &ldquo;Our alliance is stronger than ever. I am fully confident that the NDA will register a major victory and form the government in Tamil Nadu.&rdquo;
While details of seat-sharing and the alliance structure are yet to be finalized, Shah indicated that both parties would draft a common minimum programme if required. He also stated that the BJP would respect AIADMK&rsquo;s autonomy in internal matters, dismissing concerns about interference and power-sharing friction.
The Home Minister took a sharp dig at the ruling DMK government, alleging rampant corruption and administrative failures. From liquor and sand mining scams to irregularities in employment schemes like MNREGA, Shah accused the MK Stalin-led government of governance breakdown. He also called for accountability from the ruling leadership, specifically targeting Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi Stalin.
With the political battlefield heating up in Tamil Nadu, this renewed alliance signals a high-stakes contest for 2026. For the BJP, which has been seeking deeper inroads in the state, and for the AIADMK looking to reclaim its dominance, this partnership could prove to be a game-changer in the regional political landscape.

AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP leader K Annamalai

BJP steps back, replaces Annamalai to seal alliance; focuses on united fight vs DMK in 2026

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April 12, 2025 | 02:54 IST