As the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections draw near, the alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) is facing both cooperation and contention. While both parties have agreed to launch a joint campaign to address public issues concerning the ruling DMK government, disagreements persist regarding the inclusion of expelled leaders and the expansion of the NDA alliance.
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) and BJP leader Amit Shah have announced their alliance for the upcoming 2026 elections. EPS has also commenced a statewide campaign tour. The BJP, aiming to consolidate anti-DMK votes, is actively seeking to bring new parties into the NDA. The AIADMK, however, has reservations about inducting leaders expelled from the party, fearing it could affect the alliance's unity.
One major point of contention is the potential return of O. Panneerselvam (OPS), the former Deputy Chief Minister who was expelled from the AIADMK. The BJP is reportedly inclined to bring OPS into its fold, possibly by the end of the year, a move that the AIADMK may resist. EPS has firmly conveyed to the BJP leadership his opposition to readmitting not only OPS, but also V. K. Sasikala, and T. T. V. Dhinakaran. EPS has stated that there is no scope for the return of expelled leaders, pointing to their past actions against the party. He questioned how he could allow back leaders whose supporters attacked the AIADMK headquarters or those who attempted to topple the government.
The BJP is also considering including TTV Dhinakaran, leader of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), in the NDA, especially if EPS does not bring him back into the AIADMK fold. BJP strategists believe that Dhinakaran, who belongs to the Thevar community, could strengthen the NDA. There is also the possibility that V.K. Sasikala, a close aide of the late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, may campaign in favor of the NDA.
However, the AIADMK seems wary of the BJP's push to include more parties. The AIADMK believes Vijay, who belongs to the Pillai caste, can bring in the Agadi caste votes. However, the BJP is not in favor for now, as it believes Vijay only cuts into DMK's votes. Differences also persist between the BJP and AIADMK concerning TT Dhinakaran and the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK).
Despite these disagreements, both parties have agreed to launch a joint campaign focusing on attacking the DMK government over governance issues. The BJP aims to ensure that the anti-DMK vote is not divided. To this end, the BJP is working to include smaller parties within the NDA fold.
The AIADMK, however, is facing internal pressure to distance itself from the BJP, with some cadres feeling that the alliance has alienated the party from minority sections. There are concerns that the BJP's hardline stance on issues like NEET and the three-language formula in the National Education Policy (NEP) does not align well with the AIADMK's position.
The BJP believes that a united AIADMK is essential to counter the DMK in the upcoming elections. However, its attempts to reconcile the various factions within the AIADMK have so far been unsuccessful. The AIADMK, on the other hand, is wary of ceding ground and wants to lead the alliance.
The success of the BJP-AIADMK alliance will depend on their ability to navigate these differences and present a united front against the DMK. The coming weeks and months will be crucial in determining whether they can overcome the challenges and work together effectively for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
