As the 2024 elections loom, Tamil Nadu appears set for a three-cornered contest, with the ruling DMK-led front maintaining its unity, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) expanding its coalition to include the PMK, and the AIADMK grappling with diminishing allies.
The DMK, retaining its allies and contesting in 22 constituencies with the support of the Congress, Left parties, and recent addition MNM, led by Kamal Haasan, is poised for a formidable electoral presence. Despite being denied a constituency, MNM has secured a Rajya Sabha seat, emphasizing the importance of coalition politics in the state.
On the other hand, the AIADMK finds itself isolated, having severed ties with the NDA over internal discord with the BJP’s state leadership. Efforts to reconcile with the BJP’s national leadership have been rebuffed by AIADMK’s general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, leading to the defection of erstwhile allies to the BJP.
While the BJP’s intensified campaigning and prominent leaders’ visits have bolstered its visibility, the real test lies in converting this visibility into electoral success. Despite AIADMK’s status as the principal opposition party, there are doubts regarding significant seat gains, as the political landscape appears largely unchanged from 2019, with the DMK facing anti-incumbency challenges.
