Revival of the BJP-AIADMK ties a year before the 2026 Assembly election is to ensure better coordination among constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), sources in the national party have said.

According to BJP leaders, the strategic rationale behind the early revival and announcement of the alliance was to ensure coordination among the allies “at all levels”. “The Central leadership wanted to announce the alliance well in advance to allow sufficient time for leaders and cadre of both the parties and their allies to work in unison to unseat the DMK from power. The ample time of one year would ensure better coordination not only among leaders of the NDA, but also among the cadre,” P. Sudhakar Reddy, BJP’s national co-incharge for Tamil Nadu, said. According to him, the BJP and the AIADMK had realised the dire need to work together to put an end to the DMK’s “misrule”. The allies will discuss and, if needed, draw up a common minimum agenda — as stated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah during the recent formalisation of ties. “Such process requires time,” Mr. Reddy said.

Echoing similar sentiments, BJP Tamil Nadu vice-president Narayanan Thirupathy said: “The decision to give shape to the NDA early stems from the urgency to remove the DMK from power. Under its rule, law and order has worsened, poll promises remain unfulfilled, and drug menace continues. Only a strong, united alliance can save Tamil Nadu from the DMK…”

He further said: “Every day, the DMK and its allies claim that their alliance remains intact. Now, with the NDA taking shape in the State, we will pose a formidable challenge to them. There is no difference of opinion between the BJP and the AIADMK. For the State’s welfare, we are committed to work closely. We may have had some differences, but it is a matter of the past. When it comes to the common goal of ousting the DMK from power, we will drop yesterday’s issues and we will not carry them forward.”

A few other “like-minded parties” would also join the alliance in the coming months, Mr. Thirupathy added. The TMC (Moopanar) has backed the BJP-AIADMK alliance, and it is likely that smaller players such as the IJK and the New Justice Party would remain in the NDA.

The PMK, which contested the 2024 Parliamentary election under the BJP’s leadership, is, at present, caught in an internal leadership rift between the party founder S. Ramadoss and his son Anbumani Ramadoss.

Besides, AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran and expelled AIADMK coordinator O. Panneerselvam were with the NDA in 2024.

‘Will win in 2026’

Meanwhile, BJP Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagenthran on Sunday said that the NDA would unseat the DMK from power in the 2026 Assembly election.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), he said: “Some DMK men are calling our [BJP-AIADMK] alliance “incompatible”. This alliance is indeed incompatible for the DMK because it is going to send home the regime of @mkstalin, that has been exploiting and burdening the people. This alliance is going to uproot a government that has appointed those who disgraced the dignity of Tamil Nadu women, as Ministers.”

He further said: “Don’t panic, Mr. Stalin, you still have one more year left. But no one can change the verdict that the people are going to deliver upon you.”