It’s final: With EPS as the face, AIADMK, BJP form alliance for Tamil Nadu polls

With this, weeks of behind-the-scenes negotiations and backchannel meetings came to a close, marking the return of the NDA in Tamil Nadu with a bang. Shah’s talk of a common minimum programme was a message that the two parties will work together on a shared agenda, putting aside their differences on several core issues.

Asked directly about whether Annamalai was being removed as state BJP chief ahead of the alliance, Shah replied with a grin: “Nothing like that. Annamalai is the state president even today. That is why he is sitting beside me. There is no truth in your question. The delay was only to build a comprehensive and strong alliance.”

Allies previously, the BJP and AIADMK had an acrimonious split in 2023. The two sides worked out the leadership dynamics between them over weeks of discussions leading up to the alliance declaration. Annamalai was seen as one hurdle for the AIADMK, whose leadership had taken offence to his aggressive stance towards them ahead of their break-up.

However, as reported by The Indian Express, the fact that Annamalai and EPS share the same Gounder caste was the biggest factor in the BJP considering a change of leadership in the state.

Saturday’s joint appearance of EPS, Annamalai and Shah was another iteration by the BJP that it wasn’t under any pressure on the issue of its state chief. In his tweet before the media interaction, Shah posted: “Annamalai Ji’s contribution has been unprecedented… The BJP will leverage Annamalai Ji’s organizational skills in the party’s national framework.”