NDA leaders are finalizing seat-sharing arrangements for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections at the AIADMK headquarters in Chennai. | Photo credit: J. Johan Sathyadas
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), one of the key components of the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Tamil Nadu, has won 27 seats for the assembly elections, seven more than in 2021.
Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has been allotted 18 constituencies, five less than what it contested five years ago. The reduction in seats for the PMK is attributed to the perception that it does not enjoy the strength it did a few years ago, as former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss and his father and PMK founder S. Ramadoss lead their own factions. PMK Dr. Anbumani’s is part of the NDA.
Led by TTV Dhinakaran, Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), a splinter group of AIADMK, won 11 seats.
AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami told the media on Monday (March 2, 263) that they announced the seat-sharing arrangement at the AIADMK headquarters in Chennai in the presence of Union Minister and BJP point person Piyush Goyal, Mr. Dhinakaran, Dr. Anbumani and a number of other leaders. Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar)) and seat allotment details will be announced soon.
Asked why the BJP was allotted more seats than the PMK, the AIADMK general secretary refuted the suggestion of any dissonance in the coalition, saying it was completed in a “cordial manner”. Although Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (TMMK) founder John Pandian was also present at the briefing, Mr. Palaniswami did not mention what was decided for TMMK.
In the 2021 assembly elections, the BJP won four seats with a vote share of 2.62% and the PMK won five seats with 3.8%. Then also both were part of the AIADMK led front. AMMK, which contested independently and allied with Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), won 2.35% vote share in 165 constituencies.
Two years ago, during the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP led the NDA, where it got 11.26% vote share. Its allies, PMK and AMMK, won 4.3% and 0.9%, respectively. The Dravidian major, who had his own coalition with the DMDK, faced the electorate independently. None of these parties won any seats in the 2024 poll.
A senior AIADMK functionary said his party would contest about 170 seats.
Published – 23 March 2026 18:50 IST
