Speculation of a renewed alliance between the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has intensified following AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) and senior party leaders’ visit to New Delhi this week. Their high-profile meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday night has fueled discussions about a possible reunion ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Accompanied by senior AIADMK figures SP Velumani, KP Munusamy, M Thambidurai, and CV Shanmugam, Palaniswami met Shah at his residence for a discussion that reportedly lasted over two hours. According to sources, the AIADMK delegation raised key state issues, including Tamil Nadu’s stance on the two-language policy and concerns over the delimitation of Lok Sabha constituencies, while subtly testing the waters for rejoining the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). A memorandum outlining these concerns was submitted to Shah, signaling a calculated outreach amid shifting political dynamics in Tamil Nadu.
The AIADMK and BJP were allies until their September 2023 split, largely due to tensions sparked by Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai. His remarks against Dravidian icons CN Annadurai and J. Jayalalithaa angered the AIADMK leadership, leading to the fallout. However, recent developments suggest that both parties are reconsidering their positions.
While EPS’s Delhi visit was officially to inaugurate AIADMK’s new office, the timing of his meeting with Shah has overshadowed the event. Earlier this month, when asked about a possible alliance, EPS cryptically responded, “Wait for six months,” leaving room for speculation.
Political analysts view a renewed AIADMK-BJP alliance as a strategic necessity for both sides. The AIADMK, struggling to maintain its opposition stronghold against the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the emerging Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) led by actor Vijay, may benefit from a national ally. Meanwhile, the BJP, eager to expand its footprint in Tamil Nadu after an unimpressive performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, sees AIADMK’s Dravidian voter base as a crucial asset.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin took a veiled dig at EPS, hinting that his Delhi trip was more about political negotiations than party expansion. DMK leaders criticized AIADMK for compromising its Dravidian ethos by re-engaging with the BJP.
Interestingly, BJP state president K. Annamalai, who was previously at loggerheads with AIADMK, has softened his stance. Speaking in Chennai, he stated, “The NDA’s goal is to unseat the DMK, and any party committed to that cause can join us.” This shift suggests possible pressure from the BJP’s central leadership to mend ties with AIADMK.
With the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections fast approaching, a potential AIADMK-BJP reunion could reshape the state’s political landscape.