AIADMK-BJP alliance talks reignite ahead of 2026 Tamil Nadu election

The meeting between AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami and Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi has sparked speculation about a possible alliance between the two parties for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election.

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Palaniswami stated, “Our ideology remains unchanged. Alliances will shift according to circumstances and opportunities. Will all allies remain with DMK forever? The next election is only next March, and we have a year to decide on these matters.”

However, some observers believe that many in AIADMK may be hesitant due to ideological differences. Despite this, the alliance is seen as crucial for the survival of both BJP and AIADMK, particularly since the rival DMK is leveraging emotional issues to win the 2026 election.

The timing of the meeting is notable, as the ruling DMK is currently at odds with the central BJP government over issues like delimitation and Hindi imposition, which could impact state politics. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin announced that 39 MPs from the state would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to push for fair delimitation.

Political survival

DMK’s impressive performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, coupled with Stalin’s emergence as the face of the anti-BJP opposition in the south, has left both EPS and BJP worried. This concern was evident in the recent meeting between EPS and Amit Shah, which seems to be a signal to leaders on both sides to get their acts together before the election.

The meeting also served as a warning to state BJP leaders like K Annamalai, whose relentless attacks on AIADMK leaders contributed to the breakdown of their alliance in 2023. By having the top leadership of AIADMK engage directly with the top BJP leader, the message is clear: things need to be in order before the election.

To facilitate this partnership, a high-powered steering committee will oversee the dynamics of the alliance. Annamalai has also been asked to exercise restraint. Meanwhile, EPS has made it clear that BJP should maintain a distance from party rebels like TTV Dhinakaran and O Panneerselvam. Interestingly, BJP’s soft spot for former chief minister OPS was also cited as a reason for the breakdown of their alliance in 2023.

AIADMK-BJP alliance

BJP and AIADMK have a complex history of on-again, off-again relationships dating back to the late BJP prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s era. In fact, AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa played a significant role in the downfall of the Vajpayee government, but the two parties still managed to join forces for the 2004 Lok Sabha election.

When Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, AIADMK chose not to ally with BJP. However, following Jayalalithaa’s passing in 2016, the two parties aligned once more and even contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election together. After DMK’s sweeping victories in the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, EPS withdrew from the BJP alliance before formally parting ways in September 2023.

Interestingly, BJP has yet to realise its dream of gaining a foothold in Tamil Nadu. Although the party saw an increase in its vote share during the 2024 Lok Sabha election, its top leadership believes that an alliance with AIADMK could have improved their performance. Meanwhile, Palaniswami has been attempting to build a coalition with left-wing parties and others like the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), which is currently part of the ruling DMK alliance, but his efforts have been unsuccessful so far.

AIADMK ideology

AIADMK’s issues with BJP stem from ideological differences, which were further exacerbated by DMK leader Udhayanidhi Stalin’s anti-Sanatana Dharma remarks. This statement brought attention back to DMK’s roots in the non-Brahmin political movement and Dravidian separatism, which emerged from the Self-Respect Movement founded by EV Ramasamy ‘Periyar’. AIADMK, founded by MG Ramachandran in 1972, is a breakaway faction of DMK.

The movement positioned itself as a rationalist movement against social evils, opposing caste and religion. It has significantly influenced Tamil Nadu’s politics and parties, including DMK and AIADMK. According to scholars, the movement was a reaction to Brahmin dominance in various spheres, aiming to eradicate the “imbalance”. Over time, the movement took on more radical hues.