Amit Shah announces AIADMK-BJP alliance in TN; EPS will lead
Move comes after Nainar Nagendran files nomination to take over as new TN BJP chief, replacing Annamalai
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday (April 11) confirmed that the AIADMK and BJP will contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections together, as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Shah announced the alliance at a press conference, where he shared the dais with AIADMK chief and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), and outgoing Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai.
“This election will be led nationally by Narendra Modi and in Tamil Nadu by EPS and AIADMK,” Shah said.
Shah also pointed out that the AIADMK has been part of the NDA since 1998, and that Modi and former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had worked together in the past.
The move came the day Nainar Nagendran filed his nomination for the TN BJP chief post. He is set to win uncontested. His name was proposed by Annamalai himself.
More details below
Live Updates
- 11 April 2025 1:27 PM GMT
Amit Shah slams DMK govt
Amit Shah slammed the ruling DMK in the state, alleging it was raking up issues like Sanatan Dharma, 3-language policy and delimitation with the sole intention to take attention away from key issues.
People were demanding answers from the ruling dispensation over a number of 'scams,' and they would vote on genuine issues, Shah said.
- 11 April 2025 1:26 PM GMT
EPS will lead election battle: Amit Shah
"AIADMK and BJP have decided to fight next (year's) polls...from 1998, AIADMK has been part of BJP alliance (at different points of time). PM Modi and late Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa had worked for Centre-state ties," Shah said.
"We will form a government together led by Edappadi Palaniswami," he said.
- 11 April 2025 12:19 PM GMT
Amit Shah talks of coalition government
"If NDA alliance wins in TN, it will be a coalition government," says Amit Shah
- 11 April 2025 12:06 PM GMT
Common minimum programme for AIADMK and BJP: Amit Shah
On the AIADMK's divergent stand on certain issues, Amit Shah said: " We will sit and discuss, and there will be a common minimum programme if required."
