Chennai, April 11 (NationPress) Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed on Friday that the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) will take the lead in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu, paving the way for a collaborative campaign ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

During a press briefing in Chennai, HM Shah characterized the AIADMK-BJP alliance as a “natural partnership” and announced that Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), the general secretary of AIADMK, will be the NDA’s candidate for chief minister in the state.

This announcement signifies a crucial political transformation and revives a partnership that had faltered in September 2023 after a contentious fallout.

The split was primarily caused by contentious comments from Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai, which angered AIADMK leadership.

His remarks regarding esteemed Dravidian leaders such as C.N. Annadurai and J. Jayalalithaa led to significant outrage within AIADMK and resulted in a public schism between the two parties.

Previously, both parties had contested jointly in the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly elections.

In the 2021 elections, the BJP managed to secure four seats, while the AIADMK achieved 66.

However, relations deteriorated following Annamalai’s appointment as the state BJP chief, which ultimately led to the dissolution of their alliance before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

This split proved detrimental, as both parties faced considerable challenges in the 2024 elections.

HM Shah arrived in Chennai early on Friday and was welcomed at the airport by prominent BJP figures, including state president K. Annamalai, Union Minister of State L. Murugan, and senior leaders Tamilisai Soundararajan, Nainar Nagendran, and Pon Radhakrishnan.

During his stay, HM Shah engaged in vital discussions with senior BJP and RSS leaders, including a private session with S. Gurumurthy, the editor of Thuglak magazine and a significant RSS ideologue.

These discussions are part of a strategic effort to revive the alliance ahead of the 2026 elections.

Political analysts note that the groundwork for this reconciliation had been laid weeks prior. EPS, along with senior AIADMK leaders and former ministers S.P. Velumani and K.P. Munusamy, had met with HM Shah in New Delhi—a meeting that generated extensive speculation about a potential reconciliation.

Sources indicate that the AIADMK leadership urged the BJP central command to consider replacing K. Annamalai to facilitate improved relations between the two parties.

In a notable turn of events, Annamalai declared on April 4 his intention to forgo any official role within the party and expressed his commitment to remain a loyal cadre—a declaration that may have opened doors for renewed negotiations.

Senior RSS officials reportedly played a crucial role in rekindling the alliance, encouraging the BJP central leadership to mend ties with a prominent Dravidian party.

With the DMK viewed as a political rival, the AIADMK stands out as the sole viable option for the BJP to regain influence in Tamil Nadu. This announcement is anticipated to catalyze a significant realignment in state politics.

With nearly one year remaining before the 2026 Assembly polls, both parties are likely to initiate groundwork for campaign coordination, candidate selection, and constituency-level strategies.

The revitalized alliance has the potential to transform the electoral landscape in Tamil Nadu as the NDA seeks to establish itself as a formidable opponent to the ruling DMK.

Political experts believe that a united front between AIADMK and BJP could leverage anti-incumbency sentiment and mobilize essential voter demographics across the state.

As the countdown to the 2026 elections begins, all eyes will be on how this renewed alliance translates into tangible momentum in one of India’s most politically dynamic states.