AIADMK against pre-poll plank of ‘coalition govt’

CHENNAI: Union home minister Amit Shah’s statement that BJP would be part of a coalition govt in Tamil Nadu has caused discomfiture in AIADMK. While not entirely ruling out a coalition if no party secures a majority, senior AIADMK functionaries conveyed their unease over BJP’s push for power-sharing ahead of the 2026 assembly election.Soon after the BJP alliance was revived in April and Shah spoke about a coalition govt in Tamil Nadu, AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami asserted that the media had misinterpreted Shah’s statement. “He did not say coalition govt, but that AIADMK-BJP alliance would form the govt,” Palaniswami said. Tamil Nadu BJP’s official X account on Friday posted an interview with Shah, where he reasserts the idea of a coalition govt after winning the state election.

The X post included a caption that said, “The NDA govt is certain in Tamil Nadu. BJP will be a part of it - Union home minister.”

Former AIADMK minister Vaigaichelvan cautioned against any talk about coalition govt, pointing to it creating possible confusion among people. “People of Tamil Nadu have not accepted the coalition govt yet. He (Amit Shah) should consider this,” he told TOI. The AIADMK spokesman emphasised that the alliance’s primary goal is to defeat their common rival DMK.

“The one and only aim of the alliance is to unseat DMK. That should be the objective,” he said, suggesting that a decision on a coalition could be made after the election results.

“Let’s talk about it after the election.”Amid BJP’s insistence for power sharing, senior AIADMK functionaries say that allies have been keen to enthuse cadres and functionaries just like the stand taken by DMK allies. “Let them dream. Even DMK allies are demanding power sharing.

If we have a majority, we will steer the govt on our own. EPS is our chief minister,” said a former AIADMK minister. In April, while reviving an alliance with AIADMK for the 2026 election, Shah had declared that the NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu would be led by Palaniswami.While the AIADMK leadership chose to remain silent on a coalition govt, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthiran said such issues would be discussed by Shah and Palaniswami. The AIADMK camp is also facing some unease regarding Shah’s statement that the C would be from AIADMK, without specifically naming Palaniswami. Former AIADMK minister K T Rajenthra Bhalaji said Palaniswami was the “brigadier of NDA” in Tamil Nadu.

“Chief minister from AIADMK means our Edappadi K Palaniswami,” he told reporters in Pudukottai.