By Sushil Kutty
For the time being Tamil Nadu has set aside the issues of ‘three-language’ and ‘delimitation’ on the backburner. The focus is on alliances or the lack thereof. But with the 2026 assembly elections up for grabs, the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam is weighed down by anti-incumbency, and more.
The DMK says the party will win and form government again and if there is any incumbency, it’s a “pro-incumbency” as the elections will be a referendum on Chief Minister MK Stalin’s leadership and performance. If the issue of alliances is overshadowed by any issue, it’s that of who will be Chief Minister, Stalin all over again or AIADMK’s Edappadi Palaniswami, what about actor-politician Vijay Joseph who says there’s no alternative to “Vijay”?
Millions upon millions of the actor’s fans, potential voters, are comparing him to ‘MGR’, no less. MGR was Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, his filmic aura ensuring his political popularity, too. What does/will Vijay bring to the table? Tamil Nadu voters don’t ask such questions, they would rather stick to dog-eared script: One term to DMK, the next to the AIADMK.
There was a time when the Congress used to edge in sideways but that is a fading image though the good old days of K Kamaraj is fondly remembered. Now, the Congress is an irrelevant adjunct to the DMK and lives off its political crumbs, just like the Bharatiya Janata Party wouldn’t mind having to playing second fiddle with the AIADMK.
So, the two national parties have this thing of sharing power with the DMK and the AIADMK, respectively, stuck in their craws. But the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam scoff at the suggestion. Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and Seeman’s Naam Tamilar Katchi round up the roundup. Seeman is the politician who raises hackles and, therefore, largely dismissed.
Another odd man out is Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who is the BJP’s face for the coming assembly elections, not as a participant or a claimant (for a ministerial post) but as a political strategist and the BJP’s key man in this Dravidian heartland. Shah could even be said to represent ‘Hindi’ even if he is a softer version of the “Pradhan” who champions the NEP and threatened to cut off “Tamil Nadu’s share of funds” if the Stalin government did not fall in line.
Shah keeps saying there would be a NDA government in Tamil Nadu and that AIADMK-BJP alliance will “win by a landslide”. He also favours the BJP joining the government. On July 17, former Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K Annamalai, like a “good karyakarta”, backed Shah and said Shah has “said not once but twice and thrice” that the BJP will be fight the polls in alliance with the AIADMK.
Shah says the BJP will debut in Tamil Nadu governance with the AIADMK “as a partner.” The AIADMK doesn’t match word for word. Edappadi insists AIADMK will win majority on its own. Edappadi wouldn’t mind having an alliance with the TVK, though. Vijay keeps talking of “certain victory” and that “he will be Chief Minister”. However, it is unlikely Vijay will “do an MGR” so early in his career.
As for the DMK-led INDIA bloc alliance, the bloc is “united” alright. But 2026 will be decided for the “alliance” by the performance of the DMK, not to forget that the DMK faces an anti-incumbency and “history” has also to be taken into account. There are “hidden traitors” in the bloc. The infighting-hit Pattali Makkal Katchi’s (PMK) president Anbumani Ramadoss could be one of them.
PMK has an invitation from the AIADMK, but in the past has been in the “DMK alliance”. Problem is, AIADMK boss Edappadi K. Palaniswami talks in riddles. He talks about alliance and then he doesn’t talk of alliance! And, then, he backs off into confusion and blames the media for the confusion, accusing the media of twisting the issue and creating fissures. The fact is, the PMK and the AIADMK aren’t in alliance.
The long and short is, both the “national political parties” want to share power with their respective alliance leaders, but the DMK and the AIADMK do not want an alliance, at least that is the tone and tenor of their statements. There is a report doing the rounds that “the party which started talk of a coalition government” was Vijay’s TVK and that Vijay invited other political parties to be in an alliance, which he will lead.
Today, Vijay is rejecting any talk of an alliance whatsoever. TVK is all set for a big meet in Madurai, which say TVK insiders, will be the first step for the beginning of the TVK’s dominance in the politics of the state. The party’s second state conference is scheduled to take place on August 25 and Madurai has been venue for several political parties’ conferences, including one of the DMK.
Will there be a coalition government in 2026? Ask and both the Dravidian heavyweights demur, insisting that Tamil Nadu just doesn’t fit the image of a coalition government. Also, which of the two national parties would like to play second fiddle to a regional/state party? For example, if the BJP is in a coalition government in Tamil Nadu and the Centre brings a Tamil Nadu issue for a decision, the BJP government at the Centre will find it difficult.
Last, all political parties barring the DMK and the Congress want to raise the issue of dynastic politics and finish it once and for all. Would the Congress and the DMK stand with the anti-dynasty parties or will they opt to quit the “alliance”? The story as of now is that the BJP has arrived as a major influencer in Tamil Nadu’s politics, which could be a mistake. (IPA Service)
Why Modi Govt’s Boasting About Income Equality In India Is Erroneous? 