Chennai, April 11 (NationPress) Union Home Minister and senior BJP leader Amit Shah visited prominent RSS thinker and Thuglak magazine Editor S. Gurumurthy at his residence in Mylapore.

Gurumurthy, a seasoned RSS leader and key figure within the Sangh Parivar in Tamil Nadu, is believed to have significant influence over BJP and RSS members in the state.

Reports suggest that Union Minister Shah sought Gurumurthy's insights and counsel regarding the prospective appointment of a new president for the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit.

Earlier that day, he visited BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan in Saligramam to express his condolences following the passing of her father, veteran Congress leader Kumari Ananthan.

Ananthan, a former president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), passed away on Wednesday at the age of 93 from age-related health issues.

Union Home Minister Shah honored Ananthan with floral tributes at a portrait and spent time comforting the grieving family.

Tamilisai, a long-time member of the BJP, expressed her appreciation for the support she received from senior BJP leaders.

"I am thankful to Amit Shah ji, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, and all BJP leaders who reached out to console me, despite knowing that my father was a devoted Congressman," she stated while speaking to reporters following the Union Home Minister's visit.

"The Home Minister had already conveyed his condolences over the phone and came in person to offer his sympathies," she added.

Union Cooperation Minister Shah's visit to Chennai holds substantial political importance, as he is also set to meet AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), alongside senior leaders of the Dravidian party. This meeting is anticipated to be pivotal in determining the future of a potential BJP-AIADMK coalition, particularly in light of the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Union Minister Shah and EPS had previously convened in New Delhi, accompanied by senior AIADMK figures and former ministers S. P. Velumani and K. P. Munusamy, fueling widespread speculation about a potential reconciliation between the two parties.

The BJP-AIADMK alliance, which had been stable for several years, unraveled in September 2023 due to a series of contentious comments made by Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai regarding revered Dravidian leaders, including C. N. Annadurai (Anna) and J. Jayalalithaa. These statements angered the AIADMK leadership and were cited as a primary reason for the alliance's disintegration.

The fallout visibly affected the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where both parties faced significant challenges. Despite previous strains, several senior RSS officials are reportedly encouraging the BJP central leadership to rekindle an alliance with a major Dravidian party, viewing AIADMK as the only viable partner.

The DMK remains firmly in opposition. Insiders indicate that these RSS leaders have emphasized the necessity of finalizing an alliance well in advance of the 2026 elections to facilitate effective grassroots coordination and strategic planning.

In this context, AIADMK leaders are said to have communicated a request from EPS to Union Minister Shah, urging him to consider replacing Annamalai as the state BJP president - a move they believe could foster better relations between the two parties.

Adding a new dimension to the situation, Annamalai announced on April 4 that he is not pursuing any leadership position and will continue to contribute to the BJP as a dedicated party worker.