CHENNAI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will formally launch the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) campaign for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with a major public meeting at Madurantakam on January 23, BJP State president Nainar Nagenthran said on Sunday, signalling that the long-running suspense over the alliance’s final composition will end at the event itself.
Addressing reporters at Kamalalayam, the BJP’s State headquarters here, after a review meeting on preparations for the Prime Minister’s visit, Nainar Nagenthran said Modi would address a massive gathering in the afternoon, marking the NDA’s electoral offensive against the ruling DMK.
“On January 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch the NDA campaign in Madurantakam. He will address a public meeting to begin the fight to send home the anti-people DMK government,” he said.
On repeated queries about whether leaders such as AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, former Chief Minister O Panneerselvam and the DMDK would formally join the NDA, the BJP leader declined to name partners but dropped a clear hint. “You will see that on the stage on January 23,” he said, adding that all leaders will find a place on the stage during the Prime Minister’s programme.
Responding to the political sparring between the DMK and the AIADMK over alleged ‘copied’ election promises, particularly the proposal to provide Rs 2,000 a month to women heads of families, Nainar rejected the charge. “It cannot be called a copy. The AIADMK had promised Rs 1,500 in the last election. Now it has been increased to Rs 2,000. One cannot label it a copy simply because the DMK has also spoken about it,” he said, asserting that there is going to be a major change in public opinion.
The BJP legislative party leader also dismissed reports that the Union Ministry of Defence had rejected the DPR of proposed Hosur international airport project. “No permission has been denied. Certain clarifications have been sought. It is wrong to term it a rejection,” he explained.
BJP Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan said the Madurantakam meeting would be the NDA’s first campaign rally in the State and that preparations were in full swing. Senior BJP leader Tamilisai Soundararajan said leaders from all alliance parties would participate and described the event as the beginning of NDA’s victory journey in 2026.
Meanwhile, Union Minister and BJP’s co-incharge for Tamil Nadu Assembly polls Arjun Ram Meghwal said the party would contest elections across States on the plank of development and good governance.
Senior State BJP leaders left for New Delhi on Sunday evening to take part in the process for electing the party’s new national president.