Annamalai's exit, is the BJP-AIADMK alliance back? A new turn in Tamil Nadu politics

It does not appear there will be any end to Tamil Nadu politics drama. The revelation of BJP state president K. Annamalai's resignation has raised rumors - will BJP ally with previous partner AIADMK once more this time? The objective is the same - to oust DMK from power in 2026 assembly polls. The speculation has done rounds in political circles on the likelihood of the same.

Even the timing of Annamalai's exit is very interesting. Only a few days back, Union Home Minister Amit Shah had a meeting with AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami in Delhi. Ever since that meeting, speculations have begun that ice of the previous alliance is thawing. Annamalai also immediately declared that he does not wish to be the state president anymore. Though he has indicated that he will not leave politics but will work for the party.

In fact, many of the top leaders of the AIADMK had been showing their unwillingness to collaborate with Annamalai for a long time. In 2023, when Annamalai targeted both the AIADMK and the DMK, accusing them of corruption, the tie between the two parties hit rock bottom. The AIADMK was upset by the mention of the name of Jayalalithaa and the criticism of significant individuals in the state's history.

But the BJP continued to support Annamalai since she had managed to boost the party's strength in the state by working hard.  While she herself lost from Coimbatore in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the vote share of the BJP became double digits for the first time.

But applicability is biggest in politics. Annamalai, post-elections, went to Oxford on a fellowship for three months.Meanwhile, popular actor Vijay joined politics, who has become extremely popular among the young generation. With this, the young face of the DMK, Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin, is also gaining ground.

In this situation, the BJP's largest agenda at present is to defeat the DMK as the leader of the organized opposition alliance. And for that reason, the central leadership finds a tie-up with the AIADMK to be absolutely essential. It is learned that Amit Shah has made it clear to EPS that there is no use playing politics on delimitation now, because the next census would take a couple of years more to be brought out.

The BJP desires now a state president who can raise the acceptance of the party not just in western Tamil Nadu but also in the whole state. For this reason, names such as Nayanar Nagendran or Vanathi Srinivasan are arising in the conversation. Nayanar Nagendran represents the powerful Thevar community of southern Tamil Nadu, whereas Vanathi is the BJP's female face.

But Annamalai's politics is not yet over. Even Prime Minister Modi has eulogized her leadership a few times. She is even being speculated to be brought into a key position by the Rajya Sabha in the future. But at present, he is posing himself as a committed soldier of Tamil Nadu politics.

Overall, a new era is on the horizon for Tamil Nadu politics. If the BJP-AIADMK combine materializes, 2026 may be a battle hard-fought for the DMK. And at the heart of this transformation will be K. Annamalai—who, even if not leading from the front, can push a dramatic political change from behind.