Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday confirmed the BJP-AIADMK alliance in Tamil Nadu, while launching a scathing attack on the ruling DMK and Chief Minister MK Stalin. Speaking at a press meet in Chennai, Shah sought to position the BJP as respectful of Tamil culture, language, and identity, even as he accused the DMK of corruption, neglect, and diversionary politics.
Shah emphasized the BJP’s commitment to regional pride, saying:
“The BJP respects Tamil language, Tamil people, and Tamil culture.”
Key Highlights from Shah’s Remarks:
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Criticism on Education Policy:Shah accused Stalin of ignoring repeated requests to introduce Tamil medium education in professional courses like medicine and engineering, claiming:
“Wherever the NDA governs, mother tongue syllabi are available. But despite three years of asking, Stalin hasn’t done it.”
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Cultural and Religious Issues:He alleged that the DMK is using issues like Sanatana Dharma and the three-language policy merely as tools to divert public attention from core failures.
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NEET and Delimitation Debates:Shah claimed that the controversies over NEET exams and the delimitation process are also being politically weaponised to mask governance shortcomings.
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Allegations of Corruption:The Home Minister accused the DMK of being mired in major scams, listing alleged irregularities in:
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Liquor distribution
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Illegal sand mining
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Cash-for-jobs
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Misuse of MNREGA funds
He cited a figure of ₹39,000 crore in alleged corruption and challenged both MK Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi Stalin to answer for these charges.
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Political Context
The BJP’s reaffirmed alliance with the AIADMK comes at a crucial time as parties begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and potential early moves for the 2029 General Elections. The Tamil Nadu BJP, while still a minor player in the state, is seeking to expand its footprint by leveraging both regional alliances and national issues.
Amit Shah’s strong remarks are clearly aimed at:
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Reasserting NDA's Tamil credentials amid DMK’s attacks over language and cultural identity,
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Putting DMK on the defensive over corruption and policy issues,
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Consolidating the BJP-AIADMK front for electoral advantage.
The ball is now in the DMK’s court as to how it will respond to both the policy critique and the renewed NDA alliance.
