A day after BJP and AIADMK announced their poll alliance in Tamil Nadu for the upcoming 2026 assembly elections, former AIADMK minister and presently BJP MLA Nainar Nagendran was declared elected as president of the party’s Tamil Nadu state unit on Saturday. He replaced former IPS officer K Annamalai as state president, who was said to be responsible for the breaking up of alliance between two parties two years ago.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in Chennai on Friday announced the BJP- AIADMK alliance in the presence of leaders of two parties and also said to have played a key role in change of state BJP leadership to please AIADMK leadership.
The new president Nagendran declared the goal is to oust the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) from the corridors of power in the state, in alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
Exuding confidence over the future of the BJP- AIADMK alliance, Nainar Nagendran said that both parties will work wholeheartedly to defeat DMK in the upcoming 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. He called the recent tie-up between the BJP and AIADMK a natural alliance.
When asked about his message for the BJP cadres, Nagendran said, “BJP is a very big party with 1,000 and above MLAs and 300 and above MPs, and I am very proud to become a state president of this party.”
“I don’t have followers for me separately. These are the cadres of the BJP. I am sure all will unite and work wholeheartedly,” he added. He further highlighted the “positive” impact of Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s recent visit to Tamil Nadu.”There is a huge change happening in Tamil Nadu,” Nagendran said.
He further pointed out that there is no need to criticise the alliance between his party and the AIADMK.”There is no need for criticism of our alliance. We have not criticized their (DMK) alliance,” Nagendran said.
Notably, AIADMK and BJP, and all the alliance parties decided to contest the upcoming Vidhan Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu together under the National Democratic Alliance.
This significant political development comes ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly election, which will be held in 2026. In the previous two elections- the Lok Sabha and the last assembly polls–the AIADMK has struggled to perform strongly.
