Synopsis
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami has confirmed that the party's renewed alliance with the BJP is solely for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, explicitly ruling out any coalition government. This statement comes amidst ongoing discussions and political maneuvering in the state.Key Takeaways
- EPS clarified the nature of the alliance with BJP.
- No coalition government will be formed.
- The alliance targets the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
- Media misinterpretations were addressed.
- Strategic changes within the BJP facilitated the alliance's revival.
Chennai, April 16 (NationPress) AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) stated on Wednesday that the party's renewed partnership with the BJP is solely aimed at the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, firmly dismissing any notion of establishing a coalition government with them.
"He (Union Minister Amit Shah) did not mention anything about a coalition government. We are in an electoral alliance, not a governance agreement," EPS told the press after exiting the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
The AIADMK walked out in protest against the Assembly's decision to not address the no-confidence motion it had filed against the ruling DMK government.
Responding to probing media inquiries regarding Union Home Minister Shah's statements during his visit to Chennai on April 11, where he announced the revival of the AIADMK-BJP alliance and alluded to a potential "coalition government" in Tamil Nadu, the Leader of Opposition, Palaniswami, was quick to counter these assertions.
EPS claimed that the media had misconstrued Union Minister Shah's comments. "Union Minister Shah indicated that Prime Minister Modi will head the NDA at the national level, while I will lead the alliance in Tamil Nadu. It is clear and straightforward," he emphasized.
The AIADMK had previously ended its relationship with the BJP in September 2023 following a series of contentious remarks from then state BJP president K. Annamalai. However, the alliance was reinstated on April 11, after extensive behind-the-scenes discussions and internal adjustments within the BJP.
A significant precursor to the renewed partnership was the decision by the BJP high command to replace K. Annamalai with seasoned leader and former minister Nainar Nagendran as the new state president, a change that the AIADMK reportedly requested to enhance collaboration between the two factions.
During his visit to Chennai, Union Minister Shah conducted crucial strategic meetings with senior BJP and RSS leaders. Notably, he also engaged in a private conversation with Thughlak editor and RSS ideologue S. Gurumurthy, suggesting the RSS's significant role in facilitating the revival of the alliance.
Political analysts suggest that groundwork for the reunion was laid weeks prior when EPS, accompanied by senior AIADMK figures S. P. Velumani and K. P. Munusamy, met with Union Minister Shah in New Delhi—a meeting that ignited speculation about a reconciliation.
