“There are no conditions or demands from the AIADMK, and we will not interfere in their internal affairs. This alliance will be mutually beneficial for both the NDA and AIADMK,” Shah said, characterizing the tie-up as a “natural partnership.” He also confirmed that AIADMK leader and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami would be the alliance’s face in Tamil Nadu.

Amit shah on Annamalai’s removal as Tami Nadu BJP president

At a press conference on Friday announcing the revival of the BJP-AIADMK alliance, Union Home Minister Amit Shah was questioned about speculation that K. Annamalai was being sidelined at the insistence of Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who allegedly demanded his removal as a condition for the alliance. Dismissing the claims, Shah said with a smile, “That’s absolutely untrue. Mr. Annamalai is still the state president,” gesturing toward the leader seated beside him. “That’s why he’s sitting right here with me,” he added.

When asked again about K. Annamalai and whether he would be assigned a role at the national level, Union Minister Amit Shah responded, “Leave some matters to our party. Don’t worry so much—we know how to manage it well.” Later, in a post on X, Shah praised Annamalai’s work as “unprecedented” and said the BJP would make use of his abilities within the party’s national framework.

The Tamil Nadu BJP has received a nomination for the post of state president only from Shri @NainarBJP Ji.

As the President of the Tamil Nadu BJP unit, Shri @annamalai_k Ji has made commendable accomplishments. Whether it is carrying the policies of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji to…

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 11, 2025

BJP gets Nainar Nagendran as it’s new Tamil Nadu president

The confirmation of the renewed alliance came shortly after the BJP replaced K. Annamalai as its Tamil Nadu unit chief, appointing his deputy Nainar Nagendran—three-time MLA from Tirunelveli and a former AIADMK leader—in his place. Shah commended Annamalai’s contributions, describing them as “commendable,” especially in a state where the BJP has long struggled for political traction.

The leadership change, observers suggest, signals a strategic pivot aimed at mending ties with the AIADMK following last year’s split. In September 2023, the AIADMK had exited the BJP-led NDA, citing repeated criticism by Annamalai of both current and former AIADMK leaders, including the late J. Jayalalithaa. The fallout led to a breakdown in the alliance, with the AIADMK demanding Annamalai’s resignation—something the BJP initially refused.

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How BJP and AIADMK had performed in last year’s Lok Sabha polls

Many viewed Annamalai’s outspoken approach as an effort to establish an independent identity for the BJP in Tamil Nadu, a state where the party has traditionally struggled to gain traction. However, the strategy failed to deliver results. In the 2024 general elections, neither the AIADMK-led alliance nor the BJP-led front won a single seat in the state.

Analysts interpret the BJP’s renewed outreach as an acknowledgment of its limited standalone appeal in Tamil Nadu, especially when facing the strong DMK-led alliance, which includes the Congress.

Despite this new alignment, past election results indicate that the BJP-AIADMK partnership still faces significant challenges. In the 2021 Assembly elections, the AIADMK saw its seat count fall from 136 to 75 and lost power to the DMK-Congress alliance. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the AIADMK dropped from 37 seats to just one, while the DMK secured all 39 seats. The 2024 general election mirrored that result, with the DMK-led alliance once again sweeping all 39 constituencies.