In a rather daring political statement, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) has firmly put to rest any chances of an alliance between the AIADMK and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2026 elections to the Tamil Nadu Assembly. At a recent press conference, EPS made it clear that their past alliance with the BJP was only a tactical measure—to overthrow a DMK government, as he had alleged that the DMK government was encouraging corruption and following anti-people policies.
Alluding to political indiscretions in the past, EPS stated, We are not fools like sharing powers with the BJP. His off-the-cuff remarks suggest that AIADMK intends to participate in the 2026 elections independently and reorient its political discourse.
Alliance Was Strategy, Not Ideology, Says EPS
EPS also said that the earlier cooperation of AIADMK with BJP was not ideologically out of ideas but out of a move to oust a DMK regime. He also accused DMK of misrule and indicated that the population was becoming increasingly disillusioned with their government. Through the split with the BJP, AIADMK is attempting to regain its independent identity and gain voter confidence on the basis of its political performance and image.
The comments by EPS also implied intra-cadre and voter unrest over the old associations of AIADMK. We have never been working against the people of Tamil Nadu, he reiterated, in a bid to present AIADMK as a party that does what is best for the state as opposed to settling scores with the national party politics.
DMK in the Crosshairs
AIADMK has now strengthened its political tone with its gross concentration focused on the DMK government. The party leader, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, blamed the ruling party for not meeting election promises on its part and rubbished major welfare schemes as nonperforming. As the Assembly elections get closer to 2026, AIADMK is strategizing an intensive ground action with the objective of publicising what it considers to be the shortcomings of DMK rule. Surprisingly, the party is also distancing itself from the BJP and, in the process, facing off against regional as well as national opponents.
