CHENNAI: The Republic Day 'At Home' reception hosted by Governor RN Ravi at Lok Bhavan on Monday evening turned into a visible show of strength for the NDA in the State, even as the ruling DMK and its allies chose to boycott the event.
Senior leaders from the NDA and its partners, along with parties yet to formally firm up their alliance choices, marked their presence at the reception, underlining the bloc's expanding political outreach ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.
The gathering was attended by representatives of the AIADMK, BJP, Tamil Maanila Congress (TMC), Indhiya Jananayaga Katchi (IJK), Perunthalaivar Makkal Katchi, and leaders of DMDK and Puthiya Tamilagam.
The AIADMK was represented by senior leaders D Jayakumar, B Valarmathi, P Benjamin, Vaigaichelvan and Rajya Sabha MP M Dhanapal.
BJP leaders present included the party's national in-charge for Tamil Nadu Arvind Menon, state president Nainar Nagenthran, vice-president R N Jayaprakash, former Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan and Karu Nagarajan.
TMC president G K Vasan, IJK founder T R Paarivendhar, Puthiya Tamilagam founder K Krishnasamy and DMDK treasurer LK Sudhish were also among those present.
Amid continued speculation over DMDK's possible return to the NDA fold, Nainar Nagenthran and Sudhish were seen in conversation for nearly 10 minutes. However, the BJP leader later played down political significance, saying, "There was no political discussion. It was only a friendly conversation."
Though the DMK and its allies stayed away, Chief Secretary N Muruganandam, Acting DGP G Venkataraman and Greater Chennai Police Commissioner A Arun attended the event. Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, MM Shrivastava, was also present.
While PMK MLAs aligned with Anbumani attended the Republic Day flag-hoisting ceremony in the morning, leaders loyal to PMK founder S Ramadoss skipped the 'At Home' reception, with Lok Bhavan sources stating that no invitation had been extended to them.
At the event, Governor RN Ravi also presented the Governor's Award - 2025 to five awardees for their outstanding services to society and the nation with a citation and a cash prize.