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Published Feb 23, 2025 | 8:00 AM ⚊ Updated Feb 24, 2025 | 1:19 PM
An alliance with TVK and smaller parties could help AIADMK build a formidable coalition against DMK.
As Tamil Nadu edges closer to the 2026 elections, political manoeuvring has already begun behind the scenes.
Though the elections are still a year away, alliance strategies are being quietly forged, with parties now focusing on political strategy groups, moving beyond the traditional reliance on grassroots networks and party loyalists.
Recently, Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS), the General Secretary of AIADMK and former chief minister, made news by announcing his intention to form a mega coalition aimed at unseating the ruling DMK. But with major parties still allied with the DMK, a question arises: Who does EPS have in mind for this grand alliance?
According to sources, AIADMK is now grappling with an internal conflict between two factions.
On one hand, senior leaders like Velumani are urging EPS to rekindle ties with the BJP, believing the alliance could bolster their chances. On the other hand, younger leaders within the party see an opportunity in aligning with actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), hoping to tap into Vijay’s massive fan base and growing political clout.
EPS, caught between these two forces, has chosen to stay silent for now, weighing his options carefully.
The prospect of an alliance with TVK is particularly intriguing. By joining hands with Vijay, AIADMK hopes to consolidate votes from diverse communities — Gounders, minorities including Christian Pillaimar, Mutharaiyar, and even secure Vanniyar votes through a possible PMK alliance.
Bringing in smaller parties like DMDK could add Naidu votes to the party’s kitty, helping AIADMK build a formidable coalition against DMK, according to sources within PR circles closely monitoring alliance talks.
Adding another layer to this political chess game is political strategist Prashant Kishor. After his meeting with Vijay, Kishor reportedly had a secret discussion with EPS.
Sources suggest that Aadhav Arjuna, a former VCK general secretary now with TVK, is acting as a bridge between AIADMK and TVK. Meanwhile, Kishor’s team has been reaching out to ex-IPAC members, trying to strengthen his influence.
Interestingly, there’s buzz that a company called Simple Sense, tied to Kishor’s network, is already handling AIADMK’s digital campaigns, though many in the party remain unaware of this. On the DMK front, their digital strategy is robust, backed by PR heavyweights like Rishi’s IPAC, Robin Sharma’s Showtime, DMK-supported PEN (Populous Empowerment Network), Sunil, who is associated with Mind Share but not working under its banner, and Buzz & Chatters.
AIADMK, seeing DMK’s digital dominance, is now desperately searching for alternative PR strategies to level the playing field.
The role of Arjuna in this evolving drama is significant. Appointed as TVK’s election wing general secretary, his entry sparked speculation about a potential VCK-TVK-AIADMK alliance. Though VCK’s Thol. Thirumavalavan has publicly committed to the DMK alliance, insiders believe Arjuna is quietly working to bring TVK and AIADMK together.
“According to PR sources, it was through Arjuna that Kishor managed to meet both Vijay and EPS separately. Following these interactions, Kishor confidently predicted that TVK could capture 15%-20% of votes in the upcoming elections, indicating the rising influence of Vijay’s party.
At TVK’s inaugural conference, Vijay openly criticised DMK and BJP, calling out their corruption and communal politics. However, he conspicuously left AIADMK out of his critiques, fueling rumours of a potential alliance. The buzz intensified after Kishor’s secret meetings, leading to speculations about TVK’s demands in a possible coalition.
While some political commentators suggest that TVK is demanding 125 seats and half the chief ministerial tenure, PR insiders close to Arjuna say the real ask is 60 seats and a deputy chief minister post.
Meanwhile, the BJP hasn’t given up on AIADMK either. It is reportedly willing to offer EPS incentives, including relieving K Annamalai from his state posting, to sweeten the deal. Yet, EPS’s recent criticism of BJP over funding issues suggests he may be leaning toward the younger leaders’ vision and prioritising talks with TVK.
As the political landscape in Tamil Nadu continues to shift, one thing is clear, behind closed doors, alliances are forming, strategies are being written, and the battle for 2026 is already underway. Whether AIADMK leans toward BJP or TVK could determine the future course of Tamil Nadu politics.
