Chennai, Mar 24:
In a direct pushback against the DMK’s “Delhi control” charge, Edappadi K Palaniswami has fixed the BJP’s share at 27 seats in the NDA alliance for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections—well short of the 35–40 seats the party had sought.
The move is politically significant as Chief Minister M K Stalin has framed the election as a contest between “Tamil Nadu and Delhi,” accusing Palaniswami of giving more space to the BJP and pointing to his meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
However, the final agreement points to a controlled negotiation. BJP leaders, despite pushing for a larger share, agreed to 27 seats—similar to 2021, when their initial demands were scaled back.
Sources say Palaniswami focused on winnability rather than numbers, identifying seats where the alliance has stronger prospects. With smaller allies likely to contest on the BJP symbol, the party’s presence could extend beyond the agreed count.
While key discussions took place in New Delhi with Amit Shah involved, the announcement in Chennai is seen as a clear signal that decisions were finalised within the state.
The renewed AIADMK-BJP tie-up follows the NDA’s standalone performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where it secured around 18% vote share. Meanwhile, the DMK has increased the Congress allocation to 28 seats, which NDA leaders view as continued reliance on allies.