AIADMK Returns To BJP-Led NDA Fold As Annamalai Steps Down As Tamil Nadu BJP Chief

Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday announced that the BJP and the AIADMK will fight together in the next assembly polls in Tamil Nadu. Thus, the Dravidian major has returned to the NDA after breaking ties in 2023.

What Amit Shah Said In Chennai?

Speaking at the press conference in Chennai, Amit Shah said that the elections will be fought under the leadership of PM Modi on a national level and under the leadership of AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami on the state level.

The alliance was sealed after the AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) met Amit Shah two weeks ago in New Delhi. It was reported that the AIADMK chief had laid a condition that Annamalai should be removed from his position.

The AIADMK decided to end its alliance with the BJP in 2023 over some remarks made by K Annamalai on former Chief Ministers J Jayalalithaa and Annadurai.

Has AIADMK Laid Conditions To Join NDA?

However, Shah stated that the Dravidian party decided to join the NDA alliance without any conditions. "AIADMK has no conditions and demands... We will have no interference in the internal matters of the AIADMK... This alliance is going to be beneficial to both NDA and AIADMK..."

When asked whether the BJP members will join the EPS cabinet if came to power, the Union Home Minister Amit Shah said, "Seat distribution and the distribution of ministries after the government is formed, both will be decided later... In Tamil Nadu, the DMK is bringing up issues like Sanatan Dharma and three-language policy to divert the attention from real issues..."

On asking whether O Panneerselvam and TTV Dhinakaran will be part of the alliance, Shah said that the BJP does not want to interfere in the AIADMK's internal issues.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "In the upcoming Tamil Nadu elections, the people will vote on DMK's corruption, law and order issues, atrocities on Dalits and women... DMK government did a liquor scam of Rs. 39,000 crore, sand mining scam, energy scam, ELCOT scam, transport scam, money laundering scam,... There are a lot of other scams about which the DMK should answer to the people of Tamil Nadu... The people of Tamil Nadu are seeking answers from Udhayanidhi and Stalin..."

Amit Shah expressed confidence in returning to power in Tamil Nadu by dislodging the DMK alliance in 2026.