AIADMK-BJP Alliance Officially Ends, AIADMK Withdraws from NDA
The long-standing friction between AIADMK and BJP has finally come to a breaking point, as the AIADMK officially announced the end of its alliance with the BJP. This decision not only affects their partnership in Tamil Nadu but also on a national level. The AIADMK has decided to withdraw from the National Democratic Alliance led by the BJP. The state BJP leadership has remained silent thus far and has not issued any comments regarding the split.
The timing of AIADMK’s decision is raising eyebrows, as the parliamentary elections are approaching. Many are curious as to why the party chose to make this decision at this particular moment. The political motives behind AIADMK leader Edappadi Palaniswami’s decision are unclear, leaving room for speculation. Some wonder if a figure similar to Eknath Shinde from Shiv Sena will emerge from the AIADMK. The BJP’s next steps are also a topic of interest, as they now have to navigate this split and find new allies. Additionally, the DMK is facing its own set of challenges due to the AIADMK’s decision.
The history of the AIADMK-BJP relationship goes back to the 1998 parliamentary elections when they first formed an alliance. However, the partnership quickly soured, leading to the downfall of the Vajpayee government. In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, the AIADMK suffered a major defeat after allying with the BJP. This defeat prompted Jayalalitha, the then general secretary of AIADMK, to announce that there would never be another alliance with the BJP. From that point until her death, the AIADMK refrained from forming any alliances with the BJP in any elections.
The alliance between the AIADMK and BJP was reignited after Jayalalitha’s passing in 2016. However, the relationship started to deteriorate after the 2021 assembly elections. The appointment of Annamalai as the state president of the BJP and Edappadi Palaniswami’s rise as the sole leader of the AIADMK caused tension between the two parties.
The BJP, including Annamalai, has been accused of engaging in polarizing politics. These accusations, coupled with Annamalai’s comments about Jayalalithaa and MGR, deeply upset the AIADMK. As a result, former Minister T. Jayakumar announced last week that the AIADMK was breaking its alliance with the BJP, signaling the end of their partnership.
The AIADMK officially confirmed this decision in their district secretaries’ meeting, stating that they would not only break their alliance with the BJP but also withdraw from the National Democratic Alliance. This move has garnered attention not only in Tamil Nadu but also at the national level, as the AIADMK was the second-largest party in the NDA after the BJP. Opposition parties, including the Rashtriya Janata Dal, have welcomed the AIADMK’s decision.
Political analysts have weighed in on the implications of this split. They believe that the upcoming 2026 assembly elections are more crucial for the AIADMK than the 2024 parliamentary elections. With only one MP, the AIADMK’s position is not strong, and winning a few seats in the upcoming parliamentary elections may not significantly impact the party. On the other hand, the BJP views the next parliamentary election as crucial to their goal of taking power at the center. The alliance break could affect their image, and they may be more concerned about it than the AIADMK.
The responsibility for the breakdown of the alliance is placed on the BJP leader Annamalai. His immature speeches and attitude have been criticized, and it is believed that he played a significant role in causing the rift between the AIADMK and BJP. The next steps for Edappadi Palaniswami and the AIADMK remain uncertain. It is unclear what Palaniswami’s goals are and what he stands to gain by winning seats for the BJP in the 2024 parliamentary elections.
As for the BJP, they have several options moving forward. They can consider contesting the elections with other parties such as O. Panneerselvam’s faction or T.D.V. Thinakaran’s party. The decision of the Bharathiya Janata Party Mahila Morcha (BAM) will also be a crucial factor in the election. The exit of the AIADMK from the alliance poses a problem for the DMK as well. Small parties and spare parties who previously hesitated to approach the AIADMK due to their alliance may now be more inclined to join forces with them. This gives these smaller parties greater bargaining power and complicates the seat distribution process for the DMK in the upcoming parliamentary elections.
The breakup of the AIADMK-BJP alliance has sparked interest not only in Tamil Nadu but also across the nation. It remains to be seen how this split will impact the political landscape and the alliances formed in the upcoming elections.