Union Home Minister Amit Shah is set for a crucial two-day visit to Tamil Nadu on January 4 and 5, focusing on election strategy, party mobilization, and cultural outreach ahead of the 2026 state polls. The visit will see him in Trichy and Pudukottai, where he will hold key meetings, address cadres, and participate in Pongal celebrations.
Shah's Itinerary: From Political Strategy to Pongal Festivities
Amit Shah is scheduled to arrive in Trichy on January 4. His first major public engagement will be a meeting in Pudukottai. This event holds special significance as it will formally conclude the statewide yatra undertaken by the BJP's Tamil Nadu president, Nainar Nagenthran.
The yatra, named 'Tamilagam Thalai Nimira Tamizhanin Payanam' (A Tamilan's march for Tamil Nadu's rise), was launched from Madurai on October 12. Originally planned to end on January 9, its conclusion was advanced to January 4 to coincide with Shah's visit, giving the finale greater political weight.
On January 5, Shah's schedule includes a visit to the revered Srirangam temple in Trichy. Following this, he will attend a Pongal program organized by the party in the city. The event is expected to see participation from around 1,000 women, highlighting the BJP's community outreach during the harvest festival.
Election Machinery in Focus: Core Committee and Alliance Talks
A central part of the home minister's agenda is to chair a core committee meeting of the state BJP in Trichy. The primary objective of this huddle is to review the party's election preparedness for the upcoming 2026 assembly polls. This underscores the high-priority status of Tamil Nadu in the BJP's national electoral calculus.
Parallel to Shah's visit, the party's Tamil Nadu election panel, led by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, is also expected to be active. Goyal is likely to tour the state in the first week of January, though the exact dates are still being finalized. This will mark his second visit after being appointed the poll in-charge for the state.
During his previous trip on December 23, Goyal's meetings centered on campaign coordination and assessing the ground situation. This time, his agenda is expected to shift towards the delicate process of alliance building. He is likely to meet AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami and leaders of other National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituents, including Tamil Maanila Congress's G.K. Vasan, Puthiya Tamilagam's K. Krishnasamy, and IJK's Parivendhar, to initiate formal seat-sharing discussions.
Navigating Alliance Dynamics: PMK and DMDK on the Table
Sources indicate that Goyal may also hold closed-door talks with representatives of the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) and the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK). Both parties were part of the NDA during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections but have not yet declared their stance for the 2026 state assembly battle.
The DMDK has stated that it will announce its political stand after its conference in Cuddalore on January 9. These behind-the-scenes negotiations will be critical in shaping a cohesive opposition front against the ruling Dravidian parties in Tamil Nadu.
Amit Shah's visit, coupled with Piyush Goyal's planned tour, signals the BJP's intensified efforts to consolidate its position and forge a winning coalition in Tamil Nadu. The coming weeks are poised to set the stage for a fiercely contested electoral battle in the state.
