‘Betrayal To Tamil Nadu’: Kanimozhi Slams BJP-AIADMK Alliance Revival, Karti Jibes At ‘Diminished Party’

The BJP and AIADMK have rekindled their alliance for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. DMK and Congress MP Karti Chidambaram criticised the move, with Kanimozhi calling it a betrayal.

By : ABP Live News | Updated at : 11 Apr 2025 09:07 PM (IST)

File Photos of DMK MP Kanimozhi; AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami with PM Narendra Modi; and Congress MP Karti Chidambaram.
Source : PTI | X/PMOIndia

DMK MP Kanimozhi and Congress MP Karti Chidambaram reacted sharply on Friday as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) formally revived their alliance for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, marking a significant political development nearly two years after their split in 2023.

DMK MP Kanimozhi called it a “betrayal” of the people of Tamil Nadu. “Edappadi Palaniswami had said that there will never be an alliance between AIADMK and BJP. Today, they announced the alliance and shared the same stage. Edappadi Palaniswami (AIADMK) opposed many Bills brought by BJP in Parliament, and now they have an alliance. This shows a betrayal to people of Tamil Nadu. They (AIADMK) openly announced alliance now because of compulsion,” she said, as per news agency ANI.

Further speaking to the media, she remarked, “After the BJP insulted their leaders, he (Edappadi Palaniswami) announced that they would never be in an alliance with the BJP. But today, we saw him silently watching the Union Home Minister announcing the alliance... He did not even get a chance to say a word and it was expected. Now we know who would be leading the alliance and who would be forced to follow."

Highlighting the divergent views of the AIADMK and the BJP on the Waqf Act, delimitation, NEET, and more, she remarked, “On one hand, they opposed all this, and today they are in an alliance. So it is Mr Edappadi Palaniswami who has to explain what his stand is, now that Home Minister will be going back… I hope they give him (EPS) permission to speak to the press; then I am sure he will explain what has changed and what has not. Just a few days ago, we heard him saying he stands with the minorities and he opposes the Waqf bill. Today he has to explain to the minorities of the state what their stand is and what their stand is on two-language policy and NEET.”

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram also criticised the move, saying, “They are independent political parties. They are free to announce and take decisions. AIADMK, at one point of time, was with the BJP. Then they realised that the BJP was a drag that was pulling them down in Tamil Nadu. So, they broke the alliance. They have now come back into the alliance. But the AIADMK is a greatly diminished party today.”

Speaking to ANI, Karti added, “There were days when people went to the AIADMK to have alliance, it has now changed and the AIADMK has to come to Delhi to make alliances. But the BJP is not necessarily the most welcome party in Tamil Nadu, their politics is not accepted by the people of Tamil Nadu. The AIADMK realised this earlier but now they have been forced to have an alliance with them. Edappadi Palaniswami had led the AIADMK formation for 3 elections after he became the CM and he has lost all 3 elections…”

BJP-AIADMK Will Form A Government Together Led By Edappadi Palaniswami: Amit Shah

Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during a press conference in Chennai on Friday, announced that the NDA would contest the upcoming state elections under the leadership of AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS). “We will form a government together led by Edappadi Palaniswami,” Shah said, as quoted by news agency PTI. He stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would lead the alliance at the national level, while EPS would spearhead it in Tamil Nadu.

Describing the partnership as a “natural alliance”, Shah recalled the historical ties between the two parties, stating that since 1998, the AIADMK had, at various points, been part of the BJP-led alliance. He also referred to the camaraderie between PM Modi and former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa during their time in national politics.

The announcement comes months after the AIADMK severed ties with the BJP in September 2023 following controversial remarks by BJP state president K. Annamalai, which had irked AIADMK leaders by targeting Dravidian stalwarts like C.N. Annadurai and J. Jayalalithaa. Their fallout ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections had proved costly for both parties.

According to news agency IANS, senior AIADMK leaders, including EPS, S.P. Velumani and K.P. Munusamy, had met Shah in Delhi earlier this year, sparking speculation about a reconciliation. BJP sources told IANS the AIADMK had requested the removal of Annamalai to ease tensions, and the BJP central leadership was urged by senior RSS functionaries to re-establish ties with the Dravidian major. In a key move, Annamalai recently announced that he would not seek any official position in the party, declaring he would continue as a loyal cadre—potentially paving the way for the alliance’s revival.

Amit Shah, while acknowledging AIADMK’s earlier opposition to certain BJP Bills, said the two parties would resolve such issues through discussion and, if required, would formulate a Common Minimum Programme. He also took aim at the ruling DMK, accusing it of diverting public attention from key issues by raking up debates around Sanatan Dharma, the three-language policy, and delimitation.

Shah expressed confidence that the National Democratic Alliance would secure a decisive mandate in 2026 and form the government in Tamil Nadu.

With nearly a year to go before the Assembly elections, the revived BJP-AIADMK alliance may reshape the state’s political dynamics, particularly if it can harness anti-incumbency sentiment and consolidate voter blocs against the ruling DMK.

Also read
AIADMK-BJP Alliance Sealed For Tamil Nadu Election 2026, Amit Shah Says 'EPS To Lead Battle'

As Tamil Nadu BJP Gets New President, What’s Next For Annamalai? Amit Shah Breaks Silence On His Role

Published at : 11 Apr 2025 08:28 PM (IST)
Tags :
AIADMK Tamil Nadu Kanimozhi Karti Chidambaram Edappadi Palaniswami BJP EPS Tamil Nadu Election AMIT SHAH Tamil Nadu Election 2026

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