TVK chief Vijay. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
AIADMK deputy general secretary K.P. Munusamy on Monday (March 9, 2026) said he had “no information” about renewed attempts to accommodate the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor Vijay, in the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the State.
Mr. Munusamy was responding to this journalist when it was pointed out to him that AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s reaction to the TVK’s recent announcements for women was fairly matter of fact. In Salem on Sunday (March 8), Mr. Palaniswami observed that Mr. Vijay made these announcements just as the leader of any other political party would do ahead of elections. On the same day, a spokesperson of the State unit of the BJP urged the TVK chief to consider joining the NDA so that a division in anti-DMK votes could be prevented in the State.
A week ago, the AIADMK leader, after meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, said there were chances of some more parties joining the alliance, as talks were in progress. Last Saturday (March 7), former AIADMK Minister Sellur K. Raju, while responding to a question on certain issues concerning the personal life of the TVK leader, blamed the ruling DMK for orchestrating a “smear campaign” against Mr. Vijay.
According to reports in sections of the media, Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister and Jana Sena Party (JSP) president, K. Pawan Kalyan, had been trying to bring the TVK into the NDA. When he was in Chennai to address a public event in May last year, he told journalists that he did not want to underestimate Mr. Vijay and his entry into politics. In his State, Mr. Pawan Kalyan is viewed as someone who had played a key role in bringing the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the BJP together a few years ago and eventually, in unseating the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), led by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, from power in June 2024.
Courting TVK
At one stage, both the AIADMK and BJP had openly courted the TVK. During Mr. Palaniswami’s visit to Komarapalayam in Namakkal on October 8, 2025, as part of his State-wide tour to canvass people for support, a few persons held up the TVK flag, prompting the AIADMK leader to remark that “a beginning” had been made for the alliance. This was after a stampede occurred at the TVK leader’s rally in Karur in September 2025, leading to the death of 41 persons. In the Assembly, the AIADMK staged a walkout over the Karur matter and Mr. Palaniswami, speaking to reporters outside the Assembly chamber, had argued that the tragedy could have been prevented if the State government had ensured adequate police protection.
However, in recent months, the Dravidian major and TVK have fallen out, with both sides criticising each other.
Published – March 09, 2026 03:43 pm IST
