Amit Shah Promises NDA Government in Tamil Nadu by 2026 Amidst AIADMK Disagreement
Amit Shah's Vision for Tamil Nadu
Amit Shah has asserted that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will establish a government in Tamil Nadu during the 2026 assembly elections, despite differing views from the AIADMK. Shah made these remarks while addressing the concluding event of the 'Tamizhagam Thalai Nimira Tamizhin Payanam' journey, led by Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran, in Pudukkottai. He urged the citizens of the state to unite under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership to embark on a transformative journey for Tamil Nadu.
AIADMK's Counterclaim
Opposition leader and AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami reiterated that his party will return to power. He expressed confidence that the AIADMK would secure an absolute majority in the 2026 elections while addressing a public meeting in Salem as part of his 'Makkalai Kappam, Tamizhagaithai Meetpom' campaign on the same day as Shah's statements.
Shah's Commitment to Coalition
Shah emphasized that the BJP, along with AIADMK and other NDA allies, will form a robust coalition to establish the next government in the state. He declared, 'No matter how long it takes, we will end the DMK rule and ultimately oust them from power.' The Home Minister reiterated that the NDA will achieve a majority in Tamil Nadu in 2026, recalling that the BJP and AIADMK had previously contested elections together in 1998, 2019, and 2021. Although both parties ran separately in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, they claimed that a combined vote share could lead to victories in 26 parliamentary constituencies.
Criticism of DMK's Governance
Meanwhile, Palaniswami criticized the DMK for being inactive for most of its term, only beginning to take action as elections approach. In response to accusations of the NDA being 'anti-Tamil,' Shah pointed out that during Modi's tenure, Tamil was first allowed as an optional language in IAS and IPS exams, and announcements by the railways were regularly made in Tamil. He also highlighted initiatives such as the establishment of a Tamil chair named after poet Subramania Bharati in Varanasi and the translation of Thirukkural into 13 languages.