Will AIADMK Return To NDA As BJP Keeps Its Doors Open? Here's All About Alliance Possibilities In Tamil Nadu

As the countdown to the Lok Sabha elections commences, Tamil Nadu has become the battleground for a high-stakes political maneuvering.

With the DMK-led secular alliance standing firm, the opposition's strategy pivots on the AIADMK, which severed ties with the BJP-led NDA last September.

In Delhi, the BJP leadership has kept the door ajar for the AIADMK's potential return, leaving key players, including ousted AIADMK figures O Panneerselvam and T T V Dhinakaran, vying for re-entry via the NDA as per a report by The Indian Express.

However, the AIADMK, under its leader Edappadi K Palaniswami, maintains a cautious stance.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah's recent statement, expressing openness to potential allies, hints at the BJP's willingness to reintegrate the AIADMK into the NDA fold. Yet, the discord has intensified due to state BJP president K Annamalai's ongoing statewide yatra.

Despite Shah's overture, AIADMK spokesperson D Jayakumar reiterated the party's stance, asserting closed doors to any alliance with the BJP.

Palaniswami also stated, "I have said many times before. The AIADMK has made it clear in last September’s district secretaries meeting that it will not have an alliance with the BJP. We are not part of the NDA. Even after that, there has been a consistent campaign in the media that we are still talking to the BJP. Let me tell them again and again, we do not have an alliance with the BJP. Nobody needs to ask us about a BJP alliance hereafter.”

Despite these public declarations, BJP insiders suggest that the chapter remains open, with J P Nadda's visit to Chennai fueling speculation about potential discussions with OPS.

However, another party leader has stated, “Even if a scenario emerges and Palaniswami agrees to join the NDA front, he will not do it if OPS and TTV are with us. So, we wouldn’t do anything that appears like we have already given shelter to OPS and TTV.”

Meanwhile, a senior RSS leader suggested, “Annamalai is the only BJP leader who stands against the AIADMK alliance. He is the sole problem, not others. After his ongoing statewide yatra, what if he is sent to Karnataka for election duty, and the senior leader Vanathi Srinivasan is made in charge of the state party here? If Annamalai, OPS, and TTV are out of the scene, it may open a chance for an alliance. We feel that it cannot be ruled out completely. Because EPS, even if stubborn, has reasons to consider the option of an NDA alliance.”

Despite these uncertainties, a former AIADMK minister asserts Palaniswami's resolve to steer clear of the NDA, citing concerns over credibility and future prospects.

Furthermore, the PMK, a longstanding NDA member, is also weighing its options, contemplating a departure from the alliance unless promised a significant role post-election.

The prospect of a PMK-AIADMK alliance hints at potential seat adjustments, reshaping the electoral landscape.

The outlook for OPS and Dhinakaran appears bleak, with their political influence waning. While OPS hints at a broad alliance to support Narendra Modi's candidacy, their limited electoral prowess diminishes their appeal to the BJP.