As the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections come closer, discussions about power sharing and coalition governments are becoming louder across the State. However, the two major Dravidian parties continue to reject the idea of forming coalition governments and insist on leading the government on their own.
On Sunday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said in Trichy that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) would form the next government in Tamil Nadu. His statement suggested confidence within the BJP-led alliance ahead of the elections.
Just a few hours later, AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami addressed a party meeting in Salem. He made it clear that the AIADMK would form the government on its own, without sharing power with alliance partners.
The back-to-back statements have sparked fresh debate about alliances and power-sharing arrangements in the State. While smaller parties are demanding a share in power if alliances come to form the government, the major Dravidian parties appear firm in their stand that they will lead any future government independently.
As election preparations pick up pace, these contrasting claims reflect the complex political dynamics in Tamil Nadu, where alliances are often formed for elections but power-sharing remains a sensitive issue.