AIADMK-BJP Alliance Hits Early Turbulence in Tamil Nadu, EPS Draws Clear Line on Coalition
Barely days after the BJP-AIADMK alliance was formally announced for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, visible cracks have begun to emerge within the ranks&mdash;both at the top and on the ground. The optics of unity are rapidly giving way to confusion, resentment, and resistance, especially within AIADMK&rsquo;s district cadre.
In a significant political signal, AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) firmly clarified on Wednesday that the understanding with the BJP was&nbsp;strictly electoral, and emphatically ruled out the possibility of a coalition government.
&ldquo;There is no question of a coalition government,&rdquo; EPS told reporters, shortly after staging a walkout from the Assembly over the Speaker&rsquo;s refusal to take up the AIADMK&rsquo;s no-confidence motion against the ruling DMK. &ldquo;Amit Shah never spoke about a coalition government. Ours is a seat-sharing arrangement for the elections&mdash;nothing more.&rdquo;
This statement comes as a sharp rebuttal to Union Home Minister Amit Shah&rsquo;s remarks made on April 11, where he spoke of forming a &ldquo;coalition government&rdquo; in Tamil Nadu under EPS&rsquo;s leadership, with a common minimum programme.
&ldquo;That narrative is being built by the media,&rdquo; EPS insisted when pressed again. &ldquo;He (Shah) only said I would lead the alliance in Tamil Nadu, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi would lead the NDA nationally.&rdquo;
While EPS is attempting to steady the political messaging from the top, AIADMK&rsquo;s local units are openly showing signs of unease. In Tirupur, senior leaders including former Minister V Jayaraman and ex-MLA Gunasekaran voiced strong regret over the alliance. &ldquo;It is deeply regrettable to align with the BJP. This sends the wrong message to Muslim voters,&rdquo; said Gunasekaran, openly suggesting the tie-up was forced and expressing solidarity with minorities.
His remarks drew an immediate and sharp reaction from BJP&rsquo;s Tirupur North District Secretary Karthik. &ldquo;You lost your last election in your stronghold. Was that because of BJP&rsquo;s presence or absence? Worry about that first before blaming the alliance,&rdquo; Karthik shot back, underscoring the deepening dissonance.
As the alliance finds itself embroiled in internal contradictions so soon after its formation, the big question looms: Will this be a winning partnership&mdash;or a reluctant arrangement unravelling before campaign season even begins?

AIADMK leaders uneasy over alliance, fear backlash from Muslim voters at grassroots

EPS Rules Out Coalition Govt with BJP in TN

AIADMK leaders uneasy over alliance, fear backlash from Muslim voters at grassroots

April 16, 2025 | 16:29 IST