NDA alliance seat-sharing talks to begin after PM Modi's Tamil Nadu visit: State BJP chief Nainar Nagendran
Chennai, February 26
Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran on Thursday announced that the seat sharing the talks within the National Democratic Alliance for the forthcoming state polls would begin following PM Narendra Modi's upcoming Madurai visit on March 1.
Speaking at an event in Chennai, the Tamil Nadu BJP chief emphasised the need for proper coordination within the NDA alliance, for shaping up Tamil Nadu's bright future. He also hit out at the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime over law and order situation in the state and also accused them of acting against government officials.
"After Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Tamil Nadu, the seat-sharing talks (NDA- AIADMK alliance) will begin. DMK is against government officials. The law and order situation in the state is not good...Students are carrying Ganja, beer bottles in their bags...We should not have differences between us and should work together as an NDA alliance. We all should work hard and create a good future for Tamil Nadu," Nagendran said.
Earlier, Nainar Nagendran, along with BJP leader Tamilisai Soundarajan, paid tribute to Shyama Prasad Mukherjee and Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya during the inauguration ceremony of the party's election headquarters for the upcoming state polls in Chennai.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will undertake a significant visit to southern India beginning with his arrival in Chennai on the night of February 28. According to top Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) sources, the Prime Minister will stay overnight at the Governor's residence in Chennai. On the morning of March 1, the Prime Minister will depart for Puducherry, where he is scheduled to participate in a public programme and address a large gathering. The visit is expected to highlight key developmental initiatives and government welfare schemes, and draw participation from local leaders, officials, and party workers.
After concluding his engagements in Puducherry, the Prime Minister will proceed to Madurai, often referred to as the "city that never sleeps" and one of Tamil Nadu's most culturally significant centres.
During his Madurai visit, the Prime Minister will offer prayers and have darshan at the historic Thiruparankundram Murugan Temple, one of the six sacred abodes (Arupadai Veedu) of Lord Murugan and an important pilgrimage site.
The National Democratic Alliance, led by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham, consists of other parties, including the BJP and Pattali Makkal Katchi.
The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will go to the polls in the first half of 2026, where the MK Stalin-led alliance will look to project the 'Dravidian Model 2.0' for the win against the BJP-AIADMK alliance.
Actor-turned-politician Vijay's entry with his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) is expected to turn the Tamil Nadu polls into a three-way contest.
In the 2021 polls, the DMK won 133 seats in the 2021 Assembly polls. Congress won 18, PMK won five, VCK won four, and others won eight seats. The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), led by DMK, which consisted of Congress, won 159 seats collectively. While the NDA won 75 seats, the AIADMK emerged as the largest party in the alliance with 66 seats.
— ANI
Reader Comments
While I appreciate the focus on coordination, I'm a bit tired of the blame game. The BJP chief talks about students and ganja, but what is their concrete plan for youth employment and education? We need policies, not just accusations. Hope the PM's visit addresses real issues.
Seat-sharing is always a drama in Tamil Nadu politics. AIADMK and BJP have to sort out their egos first. With Vijay's TVK entering, 2026 is going to be very interesting. The Dravidian model vs the NDA model... let's see what the people choose.
As a Tamilian, I'm glad the PM is visiting our historic temples. It shows respect for our culture. But development should be the main agenda. We need better infrastructure, industries, and healthcare. Which alliance will deliver that?
Observing from outside, the political landscape in Tamil Nadu seems incredibly complex with multiple strong regional parties. The success of the NDA will hinge entirely on local leadership and a coherent state-specific vision, not just national figures.
The law and order point is serious. If it's true about students, it's a failure of the current government. But the NDA alliance must tell us what they will do differently. More police? Better counseling in schools? Just pointing fingers isn't enough.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.