AIADMK Rejoins NDA: PM Modi Hails Reunion as Key to Tamil Nadu’s Progress
n a major political development ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday welcomed the return of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) to the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Prime Minister hailed the move as a step towards a more united and prosperous Tamil Nadu.
Taking to social media platform X, PM Modi wrote,
“Stronger together, united towards Tamil Nadu’s progress! Glad that AIADMK joins the NDA family. Together, with our other NDA partners, we will take Tamil Nadu to new heights of progress and serve the state diligently. We will ensure a government that fulfils the vision of the great MGR and Jayalalithaa Ji.”
Taking aim at the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Modi added:
“For the sake of Tamil Nadu’s progress and to preserve the uniqueness of Tamil culture, it is important the corrupt and divisive DMK is uprooted at the earliest — which our alliance will do.”
Shah Confirms EPS as NDA’s CM Face
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, currently on a visit to Chennai, officially announced the alliance’s revival at a press conference. He confirmed that AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) will be the NDA’s Chief Ministerial candidate in Tamil Nadu.
Describing the partnership as a “natural alliance,” HM Shah declared that AIADMK will lead the NDA in the state, signaling a unified front ahead of the crucial 2026 Assembly elections.
Alliance Revived After 2023 Fallout
This move marks a significant political realignment, reviving a partnership that had collapsed in September 2023 following a bitter fallout. The rift had been triggered by comments from Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai, which had offended AIADMK leaders by criticizing revered Dravidian figures such as C.N. Annadurai and J. Jayalalithaa.
Previously, the BJP and AIADMK had jointly contested the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly elections. In the 2021 Assembly polls, the AIADMK won 66 seats, while the BJP secured four.
Behind-the-Scenes Negotiations
According to political sources, several behind-the-scenes discussions helped rebuild the broken ties. EPS and senior AIADMK leaders — including S.P. Velumani and K.P. Munusamy — met Amit Shah in Delhi weeks prior, paving the way for the formal announcement.
A key turning point was Annamalai’s public declaration on April 4 that he would not seek any formal position within the party, instead committing to work as a loyal BJP cadre. This move reportedly addressed AIADMK’s reservations and created space for reconciliation.
RSS Role and Strategic Meetings
Senior RSS functionaries, including influential ideologue S. Gurumurthy, played a crucial role in mediating between the two parties. During his Chennai visit, HM Shah also held strategy meetings with BJP state leaders and RSS officials to finalize the contours of the revived alliance.
Top BJP figures such as Union Minister L. Murugan, Tamilisai Soundararajan, Nainar Nagendran, and Pon Radhakrishnan were present to receive Shah, reflecting the significance of the announcement.
Looking Ahead to 2026
Political analysts view the renewed BJP-AIADMK alliance as a game-changing development in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. With anti-incumbency potentially growing against the DMK, the NDA is now positioning itself as a credible alternative in the state.
The alliance aims to consolidate key voter blocs and mount a strong challenge in what promises to be one of India’s most dynamic electoral battles. As the 2026 Assembly elections draw closer, the political spotlight is firmly on how this partnership will reshape Tamil Nadu’s electoral future.
