AIADMK Declares No Coalition Government with BJP
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Synopsis
AIADMK leader M. Thambidurai has firmly stated that the party will not form a coalition government with the BJP in Tamil Nadu. Instead, they aim to govern independently following a successful outcome in the upcoming 2026 Assembly elections, reiterating their historical political stance.
Key Takeaways
- AIADMK rejects coalition with BJP.
- Independent governance is the goal.
- Palaniswami clarifies alliance is electoral only.
- Historical context of Tamil Nadu's politics highlighted.
- Leadership changes were crucial for alliance renewal.
Chennai, April 17 (NationPress) Senior AIADMK figure and Rajya Sabha MP M. Thambidurai on Thursday dismissed the possibility of forming a coalition government with the BJP in Tamil Nadu, emphasizing that the AIADMK aims to govern independently if the alliance achieves victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.
In a statement to the press, Thambidurai remarked: “Tamil Nadu has never experienced a coalition government - not under Congress leaders like C. Rajagopalachari and K. Kamaraj, nor under Dravidian icons like M.G. Ramachandran and M. Karunanidhi. Likewise, in 2026, Edappadiyar (Edappadi K. Palaniswami) will govern alone. There is no room for a coalition government in Tamil Nadu, and it will never materialize.”
Thambidurai’s comments echo the assertions made by AIADMK General Secretary and Opposition Leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) on Wednesday, who clarified that the party’s renewed alliance with the BJP is solely for the 2026 Assembly elections and does not extend to governance.
Palaniswami, speaking to the media after leading a walkout from the Tamil Nadu Assembly - in protest against the House’s refusal to consider the AIADMK’s no-confidence motion against the DMK government - stated: “He (Amit Shah) never mentioned forming a coalition government. We have entered into an electoral alliance, not a governance agreement.”
The AIADMK leader was addressing persistent media questions regarding Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s remarks during his visit to Chennai on April 11.
During that visit, Amit Shah had announced the revival of the AIADMK-BJP alliance and reportedly referred to the formation of a “coalition government” - a statement that triggered speculation.
Palaiswami dismissed these interpretations, accusing certain media outlets of misrepresenting Amit Shah’s comments.
“He clearly stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will lead the NDA nationally, and I will lead the alliance in Tamil Nadu. It’s straightforward and unequivocal,” Palaniswami reaffirmed.
Emphasizing Tamil Nadu’s political history, Palaniswami pointed out that although both the DMK and AIADMK have historically formed electoral alliances, they have never shared power with their partners.
The AIADMK had previously severed ties with the BJP in September 2023 due to a series of controversial comments made by then BJP state president K. Annamalai. However, following months of behind-the-scenes discussions, the two parties renewed their alliance on April 11, 2025.
A critical factor facilitating this renewed partnership was the BJP leadership’s decision to replace Annamalai with veteran leader and former minister Nainar Nagendran as the new state president.
According to party insiders, the AIADMK had made this leadership change a prerequisite for rejoining forces with the BJP, aimed at ensuring better coordination between the allies ahead of the 2026 elections.
