Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai, known for his staunch opposition to an alliance with the AIADMK, surprised many with his change of stance.
weeks After returning from vacation At Oxford University, where he attended the prestigious Chevening Gurukul Fellowship, Annamalai hinted at the possibility of reviving ties with AIADMK, the party he famously opposed before the Lok Sabha elections.
Asked about a possible BJP-AIADMK alliance and AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami’s recent statement that “there is no alliance with the BJP”, Annamalai told reporters on Tuesday evening, “There is enough time to call for an AIADMK alliance…let’s wait and see how it develops in 2025.” We have national leaders with a national vision… By 2025, we will get a picture… When Edappadi Anna on his platform Talking, we are clear on one thing in 2026. In Tamil Nadu, the priority is to oust DMK. If you ask me whether we all (including AIADMK) will unite for this or expand our (NDA) alliance further, I will say these. All possibilities are there.
This is in contrast to his earlier confrontational approach, which many within the BJP blamed for the fallout with the AIADMK. Annamalai’s scathing criticisms, along with attacks on the symbols of the AIADMK, created irreparable rifts, which led to the two parties contesting the 2024 general elections separately after an official split in September 2023. The BJP failed to secure a single seat, deepening the divide.
The AIADMK wasted no time in ruling out any reconciliation between the two parties. AIADMK senior spokesperson Kovai Sathyan said, “The general secretary (Palaniswamy) has made it very clear – there is no alliance with the BJP.” He pointedly added, “Annamalai, your efforts to find Eknath Shinde in AIADMK will not succeed. We know what happened to Shiv Sena in Maharashtra. You can try your luck at DMK.”
Annamalai’s swift official response was an example of the deep animosity between the former allies. In August 2024, AIADMK leader D Jayakumar launched a scathing attack on Annamalai, calling him a “worm and firefly” with a short political life and accusing him of being unfit to lead a political organisation.
No one can destroy AIADMK; Those who try will perish,” Jayakumar said, challenging the BJP to win even a single seat on its own in the 2026 assembly elections.
Senior BJP leaders who were against Annamalai’s earlier approach to the AIADMK admitted that her latest, much softer, stance was an unexpected change. A senior leader said it followed his “three-month stint at Oxford”, where he took part in a fellowship designed to improve leadership skills.
“If you call it a U-turn, I’d say it’s a U-turn after his UK trip. Perhaps the break gave him a rare opportunity to reassess his political strategies away from the frantic demands of state politics. This innovative thinking and strategic decision-making was about – qualities that might have influenced his recent statement,” said the BJP leader.
A senior RSS leader said that Annamalai was either not that secure or understood the reality of the political scenario in Tamil Nadu. “What if he now thinks that mending ties with the AIADMK may be the only viable strategy to stay relevant?” The leader said.
Adding to the BJP’s woes is the rise of Vijay, the actor-turned-politician whose party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), has shaken up the state’s political landscape. Vijay’s first rally targeted both the DMK and the BJP while leaving the AIADMK unscathed, fueling speculation of a possible alliance between the two parties. Such a partnership could further marginalize the BJP, especially if it pushes the NDA behind filmmaker-turned-politician Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Kachi (NTK) in terms of vote share.
“Annamalai’s initial determination against the AIADMK made sense in a different context, but Vijay’s rise has changed the game,” the RSS leader said. “Vijay joining the AIADMK-led alliance is also going to be a challenge for the DMK. But if that happens, the (S Ramadoss-led Pattali Makkal Katchi) may also leave the NDA and join the AIADMK. In that scenario, Annamalai with weak allies like O Panneerselvam and TTV Dhinakaran will be left out, who cannot improve the BJP’s performance.”
On Tuesday, Annamalai said the BJP is expecting a massive change in the electoral landscape in 2026. “Dravidian parties are unlikely to form their own government, and we are looking for a range of non-Dravidian parties to form the government. People are aspiring for a new political culture in the state,” he said.
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