Big Churning in South Politics ! Will BJP-AIADMK Alliance and Vijay's VTK Pose a Challenge to DMK?

Union Minister of Home Affairs and Cooperation, Amit Shah, on Friday announced that the BJP will fight the 2026 elections under the leadership of AIADMK Chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami. The polls in Tamil Nadu are due next year. It will be interesting to see how the new alliance between the BJP and AIADMK poses a challenge to Stalin’s DMK. This can be a very crucial announcement. Superstar Vijay has also announced that he will be contesting the 2026 polls under the banner of his party, TVK.

Can AIADMK and BJP Pose Challenge to DMK

In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, BJPmanaged to secure 19 percent of the votes. The party has long been trying to find electoral success in the state. AIADMK in the past has been victorious on its own. An alliance between the two can pose a real threat to DMK amid the anti-incumbency of five years.
The direct involvement of Home Minister Amit Shah tells us a lot about the future prospects of the alliance. If a real transfer of votes occurs at the booth level, they can definitely have high hopes.

Can the Language War Save DMK?

DMK and the Tamil Nadu government are trying hard to push the narrative of Dravidian pride. They have quite successfully waged a countrywide language war. Amid anti-incumbency and Vijay’s entry into politics, playing with this proven narrative can be a good move from Stalin. But language alone may not help DMK in the face of Vijay’s TVK entry.
Tamil Nadu has a record of toppling incumbent governments. Most of the time, incumbent governments have not seen a second term.

Superstar Vijay: A Serious Contender?

Vijay shocked everyone when he launched his political faction earlier last year. He named it Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan proved his mettle in last year’s Andhra polls. Tamil Nadu’s political soil has been quite fertile for movie superstars. MGR and Jayalalithaa’s political aura is no secret to anyone.
Former poll strategist Prashant Kishor will also be TVK’s political aide. He has the best track record with electoral campaigns in the country. Summing up all these factors gives us a clear picture that Vijay is a serious player and one of the biggest threats to DMK.