Alliance buzz grows as Amit Shah visits Tamil Nadu

Amid intensifying speculation over a potential BJP-AIADMK alliance ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is on a one-day visit to Tamil Nadu, where alliance discussions are expected to be on the agenda.

Last month, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) met Shah in Delhi, fuelling talk that both parties had initiated backchannel talks toward reviving their alliance.

A key factor in these deliberations is BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai, who is widely seen as a roadblock in forging the alliance due to his tense ties with AIADMK leadership. Sources suggest that Annamalai may step down, with possibilities of a Rajya Sabha berth or a national-level assignment being considered for him.


Party insiders, however, clarify that the decision to replace Annamalai is driven more by caste and regional calculations than the alliance negotiations. Within BJP circles in the state, Nainar Nagendran is emerging as the frontrunner to succeed him.

During his visit, Shah is also scheduled to call on RSS ideologue S. Gurumurthy and meet with leaders from BJP's regional allies such as the PMK and Tamil Maanila Congress.

Adding another layer of intrigue, AIADMK senior leader K.A. Sengottaiyan recently met both Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in Delhi. Notably, Sengottaiyan has expressed dissent within the AIADMK and is known to differ with Palaniswami on several matters.