Chennai, July 26 (NationPress) AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) engaged with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Tiruchi Airport late Saturday night, marking their first formal discussion since the AIADMK and BJP reestablished their alliance in preparation for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

This meeting occurs amid noticeable tensions between the partners regarding post-election power-sharing. Prime Minister Modi, returning from an official visit to Maldives, arrived in Tuticorin earlier that evening, where he inaugurated a newly developed terminal at Tuticorin Airport, constructed at a cost of Rs 350 crore, aimed at enhancing air connectivity in southern Tamil Nadu.

The PM also inaugurated and laid the groundwork for several infrastructure projects in the area, totaling over Rs 4,800 crore. Following his engagements in Tuticorin, the Prime Minister proceeded to Trichy, where EPS welcomed him at the airport for brief discussions. While the optics indicated a united front, the reality behind the scenes reveals a more complex situation.

Recently, the AIADMK and BJP have faced discord over remarks made by former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai, who publicly claimed that the NDA would form a coalition government in Tamil Nadu post the 2026 elections and stated that Union Home Minister Amit Shah had confirmed this.

Annamalai even encouraged the AIADMK to directly consult Amit Shah if there were uncertainties. EPS has firmly rejected this narrative, asserting that the AIADMK aims for a clear majority independently and has no plans for power-sharing. In public addresses and media engagements, including in Tiruthuraipoondi, EPS made it clear that the party will not entertain a coalition government, emphasizing, “We are not fools to share power.”

He maintained that if the BJP wishes to support the AIADMK, it must do so from outside the government, without demanding cabinet positions. Attempting to bridge the growing divide, state BJP president Nainar Nagendran mentioned that he had conferred with EPS and underscored the importance of unity within the NDA.

He stated both parties are committed to winning the elections side by side. However, the discrepancies in public messaging have not gone unnoticed and continue to spark concerns regarding the long-term stability of the alliance.

Saturday’s meeting between EPS and PM Modi, intended to strengthen political ties, unfolded amidst these underlying tensions. While the alliance remains intact on paper, it is being pressured by questions of leadership and control in a potential future government. Whether the two parties can reconcile their differences or continue to manage them under increasing public scrutiny will likely influence the trajectory of their campaign in the forthcoming months.