Modi to kick off NDA’s TN poll campaign on Jan 23

With the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections just four months away, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) poll campaign with a massive public meeting at Madurantakam, about 100 km from Chennai, on January 23. The event will also formally unveil the NDA’s alliance line-up in the State.
Addressing reporters at the BJP state office on Sunday, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran said all alliance leaders, under the leadership of the AIADMK, would be present on the stage, bringing an end to speculation over the coalition’s final composition. He said the Prime Minister would address a large rally in the afternoon, stepping up the campaign against the ruling DMK.
“On January 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the NDA campaign in Madurantakam. This meeting will mark the beginning of the battle to send home the anti-people DMK government,” Mr Nagendran said after chairing a review meeting on the preparations for the PM’s visit.
Referring to questions on whether leaders such as AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran, former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, and the DMDK led by Premalatha Vijayakanth would join the NDA, Mr Nagendran declined to name any partners but hinted that clarity would emerge at the January 23 event. “You will see that on the stage,” he said.
On the AIADMK’s manifesto promise of ₹2,000 per month to women heads of families, Mr Nagendran rejected the DMK’s charge that it was a copied scheme, pointing out that the AIADMK had earlier promised ₹1,500 and had now enhanced the amount. He also dismissed reports that the Defence Ministry had rejected the DPR for the proposed Hosur international airport, saying only clarifications had been sought.
BJP Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan said the Madurantakam rally would be the NDA’s first major campaign meeting in Tamil Nadu. Senior BJP leader and former state president Tamilisai Soundararajan termed the event the beginning of the NDA’s “victory journey” towards the 2026 elections.
Union Minister and BJP’s Tamil Nadu poll co-incharge Arjun Ram Meghwal said the party would fight the elections on the plank of development and good governance.