PMK Joins NDA for 2026 Tamil Nadu Elections, Edappadi Palaniswami Calls It Winning Alliance

Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday formally announced that the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) will be part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, signalling a significant political realignment ahead of the high-stakes polls.

Addressing a joint press interaction in Chennai along with PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, Palaniswami said the alliance between the AIADMK, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and PMK was both “natural” and “strong,” and would provide a credible alternative to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

“Ours is a winning alliance. AIADMK, BJP and PMK have come together with the clear objective of defeating the DMK. We will work unitedly and achieve a massive victory in the 2026 Assembly elections,” Palaniswami said, adding that discussions were also underway with other like-minded parties. He indicated that the NDA fold in Tamil Nadu could expand further in the coming months as political negotiations continue.

The announcement is being seen as a key moment in the state’s pre-election political landscape, particularly as opposition parties look to consolidate votes against the DMK, which has been in power since 2021. The AIADMK has been working to rebuild its organisational strength after electoral setbacks, and the inclusion of PMK is expected to strengthen its social and regional outreach, especially in northern Tamil Nadu.

Confirming the tie-up, Anbumani Ramadoss said PMK was pleased to join the AIADMK-led alliance. “Today, PMK has officially joined the AIADMK alliance. This is a happy and meaningful occasion for us. We are confident that this alliance will emerge victorious and form the next government,” he said.

Ramadoss also launched a sharp attack on the DMK government, alleging widespread public dissatisfaction. He claimed that the ruling party was “anti-people” and accused it of corruption and administrative failures. According to him, the mood on the ground favoured a change in leadership, which the NDA alliance intends to offer.

In recent weeks, Palaniswami has intensified his criticism of the DMK, particularly on issues of law and order and governance. At a women’s conference organised by the AIADMK earlier this week, he accused the DMK government of presiding over deteriorating safety conditions and alleged that the ruling party was taking credit for welfare schemes originally introduced during AIADMK’s tenure.

He also claimed that Chief Minister MK Stalin was attempting to project earlier AIADMK initiatives as DMK achievements during public outreach programmes. Reiterating his confidence, Palaniswami said the NDA would “win big” in 2026 and restore what he described as effective governance in the state.

Tamil Nadu is expected to go to Assembly polls in the first half of 2026. With the PMK now formally aligned with the NDA, political observers believe the opposition camp is gearing up for an aggressive contest, setting the stage for a closely watched electoral battle.