तमिलनाडु में चुनावी खेल! क्या छोटी पार्टियां दिखाएंगी बड़ा Impact? – tamil nadu assembly election 2026 pmk aiadmk alliance history nda ntc amkr
In the 1990s and early this century, the PMK and AIADMK jointly contested Lok Sabha and assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. At that time Dr. S. Ramdas had complete command of PMK. VK Sasikala, as a close aide of Jayalalitha, used to take decisions from behind in AIADMK. Now luck has turned for both the old leaders. Both are fighting for their relevance in the 2026 elections.
Ramdas now heads a breakaway faction of PMK. His son Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss has the party symbol ‘Aam’. Anbumani is part of NDA in Tamil Nadu. He has gone to Rajya Sabha in agreement with AIADMK and BJP. Sasikala has recently formed All India Puratchi Thalaivar Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AIPTMMK). But due to being jailed in a disproportionate assets case, she cannot contest elections till 2027.
Both parties are planning to contest elections on all 234 seats in Tamil Nadu. This mission is not political. This is very personal. Ramdas has to settle scores with his son Anbumani. Therefore they will make every possible effort to divide the Vanniyar votes.
Shikala’s enmity with Edappadi Palaniswami is even older. Before going to jail, he had made EPS his successor. But EPS ousted him from AIADMK, and blocked any attempt to make a comeback.
Sasikala’s nephew TTV Dinakaran has also joined NDA. Sasikala will campaign in South Tamil Nadu. She will campaign especially in her Thevar community. Their aim is that NDA does not get votes.
Sasikala no longer has political power or credibility left. People also consider Ramdas as dead. But it seems that there will be a close contest in the elections. Every vote snatched from NDA will be beneficial for DMK. This is leading to speculation whether these two leaders have been put forward to distribute NDA votes?
Vote fraud is not new in Indian politics. The worst flood occurred in Chennai in 2015. Jayalalitha government failed. But in less than six months, AIADMK returned to power. It broke a 30-year-old trend in Tamil Nadu.
Jayalalitha formed a third front of small parties. Which included Vaiko’s MDMK, Vijayakanth’s DMDK, Tamil Manila Congress, VCK and two left parties. BJP and PMK fought separately.
The result was that AIADMK got 40.8% votes. DMK got 39.8% votes. The difference of only 1% votes made a difference of 38 seats. AIADMK won 136 seats. DMK-Congress alliance got 98 seats. Third Front did not win a single seat. But he took 6.1% votes.
Will small parties make a big impact?
Now Stalin also wants to become the Chief Minister for the second consecutive time like Jayalalitha. They are focusing on small parties. The Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA) now has more than 20 allies. In 2021 this number was 13. DMDK and Kamal Haasan’s MNM are new. Stalin has given space to small parties. These parties have influence on a particular community in a district or two districts.
For example, Kongunadu Makkal Desiya Katchi (KMDK) is influential in the Gounder region of western Tamil Nadu. Because of this, the DMK alliance won all the seats there in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This time KMDK will contest two seats on the DMK symbol.
Similarly, Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK). It has influence in Muslim areas in Ramanathapuram. It will also contest on two seats on the symbol of the rising sun. VCK appeals to the Dalit community. It is against PMK in North Tamil Nadu. The parties of Premlata Vijayakanth and Kamal Haasan are for urban votes. This is to compete with actor Vijay’s TVK.
It is as if Stalin is implementing CN Annadurai’s words. Anna had said – “The jasmine flower in the neighbor’s garden is also fragrant.” Stalin is collecting flowers to make a SPA bouquet.
But does having so many allies indicate nervousness? Or trying to reduce the risk? There will be anti-incumbency. Therefore Stalin wants to consolidate votes from the broad secular alliance. But the problem is this. Many colleagues are angry. They have got less seats. Some had to use the DMK symbol instead. Example: Vaiko’s MDMK got 4 seats this time. There were 6 in 2021. There will be a rising sun symbol on three seats. There will be an old charkha mark on one seat. This makes MDMK a mini base of DMK.
Second, there have been differences among the partners in both the alliances in the past also. Vote transfer will not be easy. DMK and DMDK were old enemies in SPA. There is no love lost between EPS and Dhinakaran in the NDA recently. Recently DMK did not like Congress’ TVK move. Congress secured more seats than this.
It is said in Tamil Nadu that it is difficult to win without alliance. But TVK stands alone. She will fight alone in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. The funny thing is this. Vijay will also take inspiration from Jayalalitha. Because in 2016, AIADMK alone had won all 234 seats on its Do Patti mark.
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