Chennai: The visit of BJP political strategist and Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Madurai on Sunday was expected the galvanise the party cadres, and discuss on expanding the alliance in the AIADMK-led NDA in Tamil Nadu for the upcoming 2026 Assembly polls, roping in like minded parties.
His visit was seen as party’s renewed outreach in southern Tamil Nadu to win a major chunk of seats over the arch rival DMK especially in the context of BJP State President Nainar Nagendran, a former AIADMK strongman, hailing from and the southern Tirunelveli district where he has a considerable support base.
BJP sources said Mr. Shah is expected to arrive in Madurai late on Saturday evening and
hold crucial dicussions on strengthening the party machinery to take on the ruling DMK and
ensure its ouster in the polls.
After an overnight stay at a hotel and aftr having darshan and offering prayers at the Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple, he was expected to meet the members of the State
core committee and hold discussions with senior leaders of the party to discuss the
poll strategy and expanding the alliance by roping in potential partners, including the
PMK and the DMDK.
Apart from meeting various levels of BJP office bearers, Mr Shah is also likely to attned
a public meeting.
This will be his second visit after his earlier visit confirmed renewal of alliance with the
AIADMK, which parted ways in 2023 in the run up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
His visit also concide with the BJP and another right wing outfir Hindu Munnani planning
to organise a ‘Lord Muruga Devotees Conference’ later this month in the temple town of
Madurai, akin to the Vel Yatra launched by former State Chief K Annamalai.
The BJP keen to bring back the Vanniyar dominated PMK into its fold as it has a
substantial vote base in Northern districts. But it at present looked like a divided one
following differences between the top leadership and efforts were on for a rapprochement
to bring peace between the father and son duo of PMK Founder Dr S Ramadoss and
Dr Anbumani.
Though senior PMK leaders are on in mediatory efforts and BJP advisor and auditor S.Gurumurthy, who Mr Shah met during his last visit to Chennai in April, also calling on Dr Ramadoss, Mr Nainar Nagendran sought to downplay saying the party has nothing to do with it as the BJP would never interfere in the internal affairs of the other party, a point already stressed by Mr Amit Shah on including ousted AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam into the front.
Mr Gurumurthy downplayed the meeting saying he met Dr Ramadoss as his old and long time friend and that he did not meet him as a BJP representative.
I could also be noted that the reconciliation efforts in the top hierarchy of PMK gained momentum after Dr Anbumani called on his father at his Thailapuram residence two days back in a bid to bury the hatchet.
Report said during the meeting both of them were believed to have discussed on the need for the party to stay united with the Assembly polls round the corner Giving credence to this, PMK Patron and former President G K Mani said it was a good development and exuded high confidence of a good news from the party.
The BJP is also keen to retain the DMDK of late actor-politician Vijayakanth which was visibly unhappy claiming that the AIADMK had failed to honour its commitment of allotting a Rajya Sabha seat, elections for which are scheduled on June 19.
However, in a bid to ensure that the DMDK remain in the front, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, while announcing candidates for the two RS seats that it could win easily, promised to allot a RS seat in 2026 to the DMDK, in what could be seen an effort to soothen the ruffled feathers, though the DMDK maintained that its poll and alliance strategy would be announced during the party’s conference at Cuddalore on January 9, 2026.
It was in this backdrop Mr Amit Shah will be landing tonight on a two day visit to Tamil Nadu that was expected to boost the party’s strategy and also that of NDA on its victory in the upcoming elections.
