Palaniswami Meets Amit Shah, Fueling Speculation Of BJP-AIADMK Alliance Ahead Of 2026 Tamil Nadu Elections

Edappadi K Palaniswami, the AIADMK leader, is currently in Delhi and has a meeting scheduled with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Indian Express reported. This meeting has fueled speculations of the re-alliance of AIADMK with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Notably, the AIADMK initially formed an alliance with the BJP during a challenging period after the death of their leader, J Jayalalithaa, in 2016, but after the DMK's victory in the 2019 Lok Sabha and the 2021 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu, the parties separated in September 2023.

Insiders have suggested that the recent meeting between the two leaders might pave the way for Palaniswami's return to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a coalition that the AIADMK general secretary has been opposing.

The visit of Palaniswami was the culmination of several weeks of dialogue between AIADMK and BJP leaders. The Tamil Nadu party has been cautious about re-aligning with the BJP, a party that is perceived as North-centric and has been portrayed by AIADMK's chief competitor, the DMK, as a symbol of a powerful Central government.

Nonetheless, insiders report that the necessities of political endurance and influence from Delhi have prompted Palaniswami to reconsider his stance, especially in view of the 2026 Assembly elections.

AIADMK is even “ready to play second fiddle” to the BJP if the saffron party addresses its concerns, as per a leader from southern Tamil Nadu. The demands include the establishment of a high-ranking steering committee responsible for managing interactions with the BJP.

The DMK's compelling success in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where chief M K Stalin also triumphed in bypolls and civic elections, has significantly limited Palaniswami's options. Stalin's emergence as the face and voice of the anti-BJP Opposition in the South further underscores this.

However, developments also show that AIADMK wants to supersede BJP's Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai and connect directly with the BJP's upper echelon. The persistent criticisms from Annamalai towards AIADMK leaders are thought to be a significant factor in the dissolution of their alliance in 2023.

The AIADMK is also pushing for the BJP to cease any attempts to engage with party rebels T T V Dhinakaran and O Panneerselvam. Previously, the BJP had encouraged Palaniswami to reintegrate these rebels into the AIADMK in order to mend internal party divisions.