AIADMK open to like-minded allies, TVK retorts: Only if Vijay is CM candidate

Chennai: A public political courtship turned into a sharp rebuke today as the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) laid down a non-negotiable condition for any potential alliance, directly responding to overtures from the AIADMK. The exchange has clarified the high stakes and rigid positions defining coalition talks ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections.

The dialogue began when AIADMK General Secretary and Leader of the Opposition, Edappadi K. Palaniswami, addressing reporters in Salem, left the door open for new partners. "Like-minded parties can join our alliance to remove the DMK government," he stated, adding, "This is the last year of the DMK government." While he termed recent speculation about TVK joining as a "personal opinion" of a colleague, his broader invitation was widely interpreted as an indirect offer to actor-politician Vijay's party.

Vijay for CM or No deal: TVK lays down alliance condition to AIADMK's EPS

The TVK's response was swift and unequivocal. CTR Nirmal Kumar, the party's Joint General Secretary, articulated a firm precondition to reporters. "We have clearly stated that we will only form an alliance with those who accept our leader Vijay as the Chief Ministerial candidate," he declared. "There will be no alliance with our political or ideological opponents. Only if Edappadi Palaniswami accepts this condition can we even consider an alliance."

Nirmal Kumar's statement not only sets a high bar for partnership but also dismisses the possibility of joining the existing AIADMK-BJP bloc, which it views as an ideological opponent. He further sharpened the attack in response to criticism from AIADMK members, suggesting a hidden camaraderie between the two Dravidian giants. "It is amusing that AIADMK members are responding to our leader Vijay's strong criticism of the DMK as an evil force," he remarked. "It has now become crystal clear that the DMK and AIADMK are political partners."

2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections

This public sparring significantly narrows the path for a grand anti-DMK coalition. While the AIADMK seeks "like-minded" parties to expand its front, the TVK has positioned itself not as a subordinate ally but as a contender for the top post, effectively ruling out an alliance with the two major established blocs—the ruling DMK and the AIADMK-BJP combine. As election momentum builds, this hardline stance sets the stage for a potential three-cornered contest, with Vijay’s party aiming to carve its own distinct political space.