Amit Shah Slams DMK Over Corruption, Asserts NDA Will Form Government in Tamil Nadu in 2026
Madurai, Tamil Nadu — In a sharp political attack against the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday declared that the people of Tamil Nadu are weary of the “massive corruption” under the current state government and predicted a sweeping victory for the NDA alliance in the 2026 Assembly elections.
Speaking at a core committee meeting of the Tamil Nadu BJP in Madurai, Shah said the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) — led by the BJP in alliance with the AIADMK — would decisively unseat the DMK from power. His visit was aimed at galvanising the party’s grassroots machinery and evaluating the BJP’s readiness for the 2026 electoral battle.
“MK Stalin says Amit Shah cannot defeat the DMK. He’s right — it’s not me, but the people of Tamil Nadu who will defeat the DMK,” Shah asserted. “In 2026, the NDA will form governments both in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.”
Calling Madurai the “city of change,” Shah addressed BJP karyakartas (party workers), saying that their commitment and outreach efforts would catalyse political transformation in the state.
BJP-AIADMK Alliance Back on Track
Shah’s visit follows his April announcement about the revival of ties with the AIADMK, which had earlier severed its alliance with the BJP. The renewed coalition is expected to contest the 2026 elections jointly under the NDA banner.
BJP Tamil Nadu President Nainar Nagendran echoed Shah’s sentiments, launching a scathing attack on the DMK over deteriorating law and order. He cited a rise in targeted killings in the western Kongu region and urged party workers to stay determined.
Calling the BJP-AIADMK collaboration a “suitable alliance,” Nagendran likened the 2026 election mission to a “yatra” aimed at sending the maximum number of BJP MLAs to the Assembly. He also described Shah as “India’s Iron Man, another Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.”
BJP state leader K. Annamalai reiterated the party’s core mission — removing the DMK from power. “The only goal is unseating the DMK. This is our sankalp (resolve),” he said.
Social Media, Symbolism, and Strategy
Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Shah reinforced his critique of the DMK, writing,
“The people of Tamil Nadu are fed up with the massive corruption of the DMK government. BJP karyakartas will reach every street and home with Modi Ji-led NDA’s vision for a developed and prosperous Tamil Nadu.”
Earlier in the day, Shah visited the historic Meenakshi Amman Temple, where he offered prayers and received a ceremonial welcome. Accompanied by Union Minister of State L. Murugan, the BJP Tamil Nadu leaders, and the AIADMK figures, Shah sought blessings for national progress and the well-being of citizens.
He was greeted at the temple by the Madurai Aadheenam pontiff, Sri La Sri Harihara Sri Gnanasambanda Desika Swamigal, who gifted him a saffron shawl and spiritual books. The pontiff also urged Shah to take steps toward retrieving Katchatheevu, a longstanding territorial and fishermen-related issue between India and Sri Lanka, and pressed for the welfare of Sri Lankan Tamils.
“Fortunate to have offered puja at the iconic Meenakshi Amman Temple in Madurai today,” Shah posted. “Prayed, seeking the blessings of Maa for the continued progress of the nation and well-being of our citizens.”
High Security and Political Optics
Shah arrived in Madurai on the night of June 7 and was received at the airport by senior BJP and AIADMK leaders, including Tamilisai Soundararajan, Raama Sreenivasan, and former state ministers RB Udhayakumar and Sellur K. Raju.
Given the high-profile nature of the visit, elaborate security arrangements were in place, with multiple layers of police and paramilitary deployment in and around Madurai.
The Road to 2026 Begins
Amit Shah’s visit marks a significant strategic moment for the BJP in Tamil Nadu, a state where the party has historically struggled to gain traction. With a renewed alliance with the AIADMK and a clear roadmap ahead, the BJP hopes to capitalise on alleged anti-incumbency and build momentum toward 2026.
Whether the rhetoric translates into electoral results remains to be seen, but one thing is clear — the battle for Tamil Nadu has officially begun.
