EPS Meets Amit Shah, Rules Out Alliance Talks

AIADMK General Secretary and Tamil Nadu Leader of the Opposition (LoP), Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), said his recent meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah was only about state issues and not about political alliances.

EPS released a statement on Wednesday saying the meeting took place at Amit Shah’s residence on March 25 and lasted about 45 minutes. He discussed important problems in Tamil Nadu, including law and order issues.

Clearing up rumors, EPS said, “We did not talk about alliances. Elections are still a year away, and alliances can change depending on the situation. Our party and BJP have different ideologies.”

EPS supported Tamil Nadu’s two-language policy and asked the central government to release pending funds for key schemes like Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS). He also pointed out delays in funds for railway and other development projects.

He raised concerns about the proposed delimitation exercise and said it should not negatively affect Tamil Nadu. He also highlighted issues like drug trafficking and irregularities in TASMAC operations and requested an investigation.

Water disputes and river linking were also important topics. EPS asked for faster action on the Godavari-Cauvery river linking project and spoke about ongoing issues with the Mekedatu and Mullaperiyar dams.

The meeting sparked political discussions, as the 2026 Assembly elections are getting closer. The ruling DMK has been actively discussing issues like the two-language policy and delimitation.

AIADMK and BJP were allies in the 2021 Assembly elections, where BJP won four seats. However, their alliance ended on September 21, 2023, after tensions arose under BJP state president K. Annamalai’s leadership.

With actor-turned-politician Vijay launching his party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), AIADMK is reconsidering its political plans. Political experts think this meeting could be the first step toward a future alliance, depending on whether BJP makes internal changes, especially regarding Annamalai’s role.