new delhi: as tamil nadu Preparing for parliamentary elections in a few months bjp is seeking to consolidate the opposition. The BJP, as an anti-DMK alliance, also seems to be trying to “make Bihar” in a state that has struggled to achieve results so far.Taking lessons from its recent Bihar assembly victory, the party is forming a social alliance representing all major castes in the state.
Earlier in the Bihar assembly elections, the BJP had a foolproof plan. the party and its confidentiality agreement The partners forged a social alliance representing the dominant castes, isolating the Janata Dal-led Mahagathbandhan and its Muslim Yadav voter base.The NDA’s five partners represent virtually every segment of society. Both LJP and HAM have Dalit faces like Union Ministers Chirag Paswan and Jitan Ram Manjhi. EBC and non-Yadav OBC castes are represented by the JD(U) and Rashtriya Lok Morcha. At the same time, the BJP has its vote bank among the upper caste and Baniya communities. This finely tuned caste alliance won an overwhelming majority for the NDA. The alliance won 202 seats in the 243-member Bihar assembly.Forging AllianceThe alliance dominated by Dravidian politics also plays a huge role in Tamil Nadu. In addition to peak DMK or Artificial Intelligence ADMKno single party can dominate parliament without a broad coalition.To prevent splitting the vote (which could favor the Democrats), the BJP is trying to instill a broader NDA in as many parties as possible. Contact is ongoing with former coalition partners and breakaway factions, including leaders who left earlier.After two years of split, the BJP and AIADMK came together in 2025 and announced that the NDA would contest the upcoming assembly elections under the leadership of former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS).The BJP’s alliance with the AIADMK is not just tactical and is seen in Delhi as the main tool to make a difference in the southern state. Yet the current BJP strategy, largely masterminded by Amit Shah, reflects this urgency. Moreover, the AIADMK also has a voter base among the Dalit community. This voter base represents almost 20% of the state’s population.Meanwhile, AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam (OPS) also announced that he is “ready” to reunite with the Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) AIADMK faction ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.At a press conference in Madurai, OPS issued a pointed challenge to EPS and AMMK general secretary TTV Dhinakaran, asking them whether they were ready to take such a step. “I’m ready. Are they ready?” He said it was possible the rival factions could form an alliance under the protection of confidentiality agreements.Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) also joined the NDA, giving it a symbolic boost. However, this is not without complications. Anbumani Ramadoss’ decision to align with the AIADMK-BJP front is aimed at strengthening the NDA’s influence in northern Tamil Nadu, where the PMK has traditionally enjoyed support from the Vaniya community. While this adds to the social breadth of the coalition at a time when consolidation is crucial, the MDP is far from united. Meanwhile, TVK’s Vijay was also reportedly approached by the BJP to join the NDA after he positioned him as an alternative political force in Tamil Nadu.Vijay comes from a Christian community, which makes up about 6% of the state’s population. Moreover, Vijay is also very popular among the youth. Unlike other movie star parties, Vijay’s supporters are well-organized and politically active.What political experts sayAccording to poll analysts, the caste equation has been at play in Tamil Nadu. However, they feel that the BJP’s efforts to put different castes on the same stage have not gained much support.Speaking to The Times of India, political analyst Kannan R said the saffron party does have some leaders from backward classes, but so far the party seems to be uniting Hindus as one.“Caste and money remain two important factors in electoral politics in TN and will continue to play a vital role. I don’t think the BJP is trying to bring different castes to the stage or, if so, it has not gained traction so far,” Kannan said.“The party does have some leaders from backward classes but so far the party seems to be uniting Hindus into one body and that is not working in the state,” he added.Another analyst, Shyam Shanmugaa, said elections in Tamil Nadu cannot be won on caste alone.“The caste equation has always existed in rural areas of Tamil Nadu. But in urban areas, it does not matter. Tamil Nadu is a highly urbanized state. Therefore, elections cannot be won purely on the caste equation. If a certain caste in a rural constituency is mobilized, counter-mobilization will occur. ” Shanmuga told the Times of India.“So, for a candidate who is caste-neutral and appeals to all castes, the chances of winning are there. The BJP is mostly seen as an upper-caste Brahminical party. It cannot mobilize a particular OBC caste. Even if a TN BJP leader from a particular dominant community is appointed as the state president, the BJP cannot win,” he added.Why caste matters in Tamil NaduDalitsDalits constitute about 19% to 21% of the state’s population. They are spread across the state, with larger populations in districts such as Cuddalore, Villupuram, Tiruvallur and Madurai.The larger Dravidian political movement, which has grown over two centuries and spawned political parties such as the Dravidian Party, DMK and AIADMK, has historically extended a helping hand to Dalits.TavarsConcentrated mainly in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu such as Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram, the Taivars are a politically influential community and fall under the MBC category. Several prominent Thevar leaders are members of the AIADMK.Former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s close aide VK Sasikala and rebel leader O Panneerselvam belong to this community.Tevar played a prominent political role during the British rule. Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar was a respected leader and freedom fighter associated with the Indian National Congress and later the Forward Bloc. His birth anniversary is celebrated as ‘Thevar Jayanthi’. The community is also said to have actively participated in the armed struggle led by Subhas Chandra Bose.Thevar population is estimated to be around 10% to 12%.VanialsThe Vaniyas, who live mainly in northern Tamil Nadu, are the largest and most politically active Most Backward Class (MBC) in the state. Tamil Nadu divides OBC into BC group and MBC group. The Vanyas are primarily a farming community and have largely retained land ownership despite industrialization. Members of the community have often been named in connection with anti-Dalit violence in the state.Politically, the Vanniyars are represented by the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), which is currently part of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA. Founded and led by S Ramadoss, the party is influential due to the community’s numerical strength, organizational structure and sustained political mobilization. Ramadoss began organizing Vanniyar in the 1980s and is credited with improving educational outcomes within the community since the 1990s.It is estimated that the Vaniyas constitute about 12 to 15 per cent of the population of Tamil Nadu, with larger populations in Villupuram, Cuddalore, Tiruvannamalai and parts of Vellore, and smaller populations in Salem and Dindigul.NadalsNadar is a trading community with strong influence in business and politics. Their leaders cut across party lines and successfully translated economic power into political influence.In 1921, the community established The Nadar Bank Limited, which was renamed Tamilnad Mercantile Bank in 1962. In 1922, P Ayya Nadar and A Shanmuga Nadar went to Kolkata to learn the safety match manufacturing process and eventually established a handmade match production factory in Sivakasi under the brand “Bengal Lights”. The town remains a major center for firecracker manufacturing.The most famous Nadal leader in the political history of Tamil Nadu is K Kamaraj, a senior Congress leader and former chief minister. Apart from Hindu Nadars, Christian Nadars also occupy an important position in institutions and power structures.The population of this community is estimated to be around 4 to 6% and is mainly concentrated in southern districts of Tamil Nadu such as Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Virudhunagar.GondezGounders belong to the Backward Class (BC) category and constitute about 5% to 7% of the population of Tamil Nadu. They are mainly concentrated in western Tamil Nadu or Kongunad region, which includes districts like Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Namakkal, Karur and Salem.The community relies primarily on the agricultural and allied sectors and is also known for its entrepreneurial presence and influence in regional industries. Notable figures include industrialist and philanthropist N Mahalingam, who was involved in several educational activities.After j Jayalatalatalita’s death, Edappadi k palaniswami (a subordinate) took over the aiadmk, marginalized the SICALAL family and O PANNEERSELVAM, and assigned important cabinet matters to community leaders.The Election Commission is expected to declare the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in April-May this year. In the 2021 assembly elections, the DMK won 133 seats and the Congress won 18 seats. Meanwhile, AIADMK won 66 seats with 33.5% vote share; PMK won 5 seats with 3.8% vote share and VCK won 4 seats with 1% vote share.
