Chennai, Oct 7 (NationPress) In a significant political maneuver ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, AIADMK General Secretary and Opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami is poised to engage with senior leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Chennai on Tuesday to further discussions on alliance strategies and seat-sharing arrangements.

This meeting represents a pivotal moment as the AIADMK-BJP alliance intensifies its efforts to consolidate its approach against the ruling DMK.

With elections looming in the coming months, political dynamics have escalated across Tamil Nadu. Major political entities -- including DMK, AIADMK, BJP, Congress, DMDK, VCK, MDMK, PMK, and TMC -- have already commenced their campaign activities.

The AIADMK and BJP are rekindling their partnership for the impending elections; however, the BJP is advocating for a larger allocation of constituencies this time, indicating a more dominant position within the coalition.

To lead the campaign and optimize electoral preparations, the BJP central leadership has designated national vice president and MP Baijayant Panda and Union Minister of State Murlidhar Mohol as election strategists for Tamil Nadu.

The duo arrived in Chennai on Monday, promptly engaging in strategy discussions with the BJP’s state leadership at the party headquarters in T. Nagar. This closed-door meeting attracted a broad array of BJP figures, including state president Nainar Nagendran, Union Minister L. Murugan, national leaders Aravind Menon, Sudhakar Reddy, and organizational secretary Keshava Vinayagam.

Former state presidents Annamalai and Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan, seasoned leaders Pon. Radhakrishnan and H. Raja, MLA Vanathi Srinivasan, and actor-politician Sarath Kumar were also in attendance.

Sources indicate that discussions concentrated on seat-sharing logistics, pinpointing winnable constituencies, and crafting a unified campaign narrative to counter the DMK.

The BJP is advocating for an increased seat allocation and a more significant role in shaping the coalition’s electoral strategy. An informal dialogue regarding reuniting former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam with the AIADMK to solidify opposition votes was also mentioned, although T.T.V. Dhinakaran’s status outside the alliance remains unchanged.

The meeting on Tuesday between Palaniswami and the BJP’s leading election strategists is anticipated to establish the foundation for a high-impact campaign, with joint rallies and constituency-level coordination planned.

For the BJP, this represents an opportunity to broaden its footprint in Tamil Nadu politics; for the AIADMK, it is a vital step to forge a robust anti-DMK coalition before the elections.