Union Home Minister Amit Shah has officially confirmed that the AIADMK and BJP will contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections together as part of the NDA alliance. The announcement was made during a joint gathering of leaders from both parties in Tamil Nadu, with AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and outgoing state BJP president K Annamalai sharing the stage with Shah.
“This election will be led nationally by Narendra Modi and in Tamil Nadu by EPS and AIADMK,” Shah declared, firmly positioning EPS as the state-level face of the NDA.
He emphasized the longstanding alliance between AIADMK and the BJP, tracing back to 1998, and referenced the cordial working relationship between Prime Minister Modi and late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. Shah expressed strong confidence in the coalition’s success, stating:
“Our alliance is much stronger… I am fully confident that the NDA will win a major victory and an NDA government will be formed in Tamil Nadu.”
While seat-sharing talks are yet to be held, Shah praised the AIADMK for not placing any initial demands, underlining mutual trust between the parties.
He also took the opportunity to launch a sharp attack on the DMK government, accusing it of being riddled with scams involving liquor, sand mining, MNREGA, and “cash-for-job” practices. He pointed to rising concerns about corruption, women's safety, and Dalit rights, asserting these would be key issues voters will prioritize in the coming elections.
“Stalin and Udhayanidhi must answer to the people now,” he said.
The announcement was made on a day of significant internal change in the BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit. Nainar Nagendran, a senior leader and sitting MLA, was appointed the new BJP state president, replacing Annamalai, whose extended term came to an end in 2024. Annamalai proposed Nagendran’s name, and the latter was the sole nominee, ensuring a smooth transition.
This renewed NDA front marks a strategic shift for the BJP in Tamil Nadu, aligning itself once again with the state’s principal opposition to the ruling DMK, and signals the beginning of early campaigning for the 2026 assembly race.
