Amit Shah’s earlier statement about forming a coalition government was significant, as it hinted at a third party getting a seat at a table long monopolised by the AIADMK and DMK.
Published Apr 16, 2025 | 10:24 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 16, 2025 | 10:24 PM
For over five decades, Tamil Nadu’s political landscape has been dominated by the DMK and AIADMK, with power alternating between the two.
Synopsis: The newly-renewed partnership between the AIADMK and the BJP came under the scanner in Tamil Nadu following comments by AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswamy on Wednesday. Refuting Amit Shah’s earlier statements that the two parties would form a coalition government if elected to power, Palaniswamy asserted that Shah said no such thing. His clarification, seemingly at odds with Home Minister Amit Shah’s earlier statements, has sparked speculations.
Less than a week after the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced the renewal of their alliance in Tamil Nadu, a clarification by AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami about the nature of the partnership has kicked off fresh intrigue.
On Wednesday, 16 April, following a second consecutive walkout by the AIADMK in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Palaniswami addressed Home Minister Amit Shah’s reported remarks from their joint appearance six days earlier, where he suggested a coalition government would be formed.
“He did not say that. He only said, ‘Modi for Delhi and me for Tamil Nadu.’ He did not say a coalition government will be formed; he only said coalition will form the government,” Palaniswami said, addressing the media.
”There is an AIADMK-BJP alliance in polls. That’s all,” he said refusing to answer direct questions of whether BJP will be part of the government if the NDA is elected to power.
The statement drew attention for its apparent contrast with Shah’s remarks during a joint appearance in Chennai on 11 April.
At that event, Shah had declared that the BJP and AIADMK would contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections together and form a coalition government.
Although Palaniswami was silent throughout the event, Shah had clearly said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would lead nationally, and Palaniswami would lead in the state, with the aim of forming a coalition government in Tamil Nadu.
However, AIADMK national spokesperson Kovai Sathyan sought to play down any suggestion of discord.
“This is entirely false and a rumour being spread by media outlets supportive of the DMK [Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]. There is no confusion in the alliance. Our General Secretary has clearly stated that this coalition will form the government, which aligns with Amit Shah’s statement,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran declined to comment.
“This is a matter between our leader Amit Shah and AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi Palaniswami. Only they can discuss and decide on it. We are not in a position to make any statement,” he said.
For over five decades, Tamil Nadu’s political landscape has been dominated by the DMK and AIADMK, with power alternating between the two.
While both parties have formed alliances with regional and national parties, they have traditionally governed alone without offering cabinet roles to their allies.
This trend continued after the 2021 Assembly elections, when the DMK, despite contesting with allies such as the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and Left parties, formed the government independently with none of the ally MLAs in the government.
The AIADMK has taken a similar approach during its own past tenures in power.
But in recent, there’s been growing calls for power-sharing among coalition partners.
Notably, Adhav Arjuna – then Deputy General Secretary of the VCK – had demanded a ministerial berth for party leader Thol Thirumavalavan in the DMK-led government.
The issue eventually led to Arjuna’s departure from the VCK and became a key part of his campaign within actor Vijay’s newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
At TVK’s first state conference earlier this year, Vijay stressed the need for power-sharing, stating that allies of his party should also be given roles in governance.
In this context, Shah’s statement about forming a coalition government was significant, as it hinted at a third party getting a seat at a table long monopolised by the AIADMK and DMK.
AIADMK members walked out of the Tamil Nadu Assembly for the second day in a row on Wednesday.
The protest came after Speaker M Appavu declined to allow a debate on a no-confidence motion against DMK Ministers KN Nehru, K Ponmudi and V Senthil Balaji.
Palaniswami accused the DMK of focusing on political spectacle rather than addressing real public concerns.
He further alleged that the party had failed to raise the issue of state autonomy while it was in alliance with the UPA-led Union government.
“They are pretending now as if they support state autonomy,” he said.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
