BJP has established communication with TVK leadership and is trying for a pre poll alliance.

Basis for the news:

BJP and other NDA  partners criticizing the DMK-led government for failing to ensure adequate security arrangements.

BJP’s possible strategy: 

1. Viewing Vijay as a key factor in upcoming elections due to his growing popularity and ability to sway young voters.
2. Consolidating anti DMK parties, with AIADMK and PMK already in NDA alliance.

What political analysts say?

1. If TVK joins hands with AIADMK, BJP and other allies like PMK,they could potentially sweep the 2026 elections, securing 170-175 seats out of 234.
2. There is a section which argues that that the BJP is not explicitly taking sides but is instead highlighting the DMK’s administrative failures.

What TVK says?

As of now, it is silent on the alliance, but has maintained that the DMK is its political opponent while the BJP is its ideological rival.

A significant political realignment is unfolding in Tamil Nadu following the tragic Karur stampede, which claimed 41 lives, as the BJP appears to be warming up to actor-turned-politician Vijay and his Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). Sources reveal that the BJP has established communication with TVK leadership, signaling a potential shift in the state’s political dynamics ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. 

The tragedy has intensified political tensions, with the ruling DMK blaming TVK for the incident, while the BJP and other National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners have criticized the DMK-led government for failing to ensure adequate security arrangements. The BJP, in particular, has assured Vijay of support if he faces further targeting by the DMK, with sources indicating that the party views him as a key “X factor” in the upcoming elections due to his growing popularity and ability to sway young voters.

The BJP’s outreach to TVK comes as part of a broader strategy to consolidate anti-incumbency votes against the DMK while maintaining its alliance with the AIADMK. Political analysts suggest that the BJP sees TVK as an emerging force capable of attracting voters from parties like the Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) and Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK). However, the BJP is cautious not to disrupt its alliance with AIADMK, which remains the dominant partner in the NDA in Tamil Nadu. A political analyst remarked that it could be a strategic move by the BJP to capitalize on Vijay’s stardom and fanbase, and added that If TVK joins hands with AIADMK, BJP, and other allies like the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), they could potentially sweep the 2026 elections, securing 170-175 seats.

The Karur tragedy has also complicated TVK’s trajectory. Vijay, who had earlier positioned himself as a Chief Ministerial candidate, faces challenges following the incident, which some analysts believe has derailed his party’s momentum. Despite this, the BJP’s softened stance and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s outreach to Vijay indicate that national parties see an opportunity to align with TVK to challenge the dominance of regional Dravidian parties. 

However, not all analysts are convinced of a long-term BJP-TVK alliance. There is another section which argues that that the BJP, led by former state president Annamalai, is not explicitly taking sides but is instead highlighting the DMK’s administrative failures. They note that Annamalai has been vocal about the state government’s responsibility for the choice of venue and security lapses, while also pointing out organizational shortcomings by TVK.

Meanwhile, TVK’s leadership has maintained that the DMK is its political opponent, while the BJP is its ideological adversary, raising questions about the feasibility of any alliance. Analyst Harish Mohammad Ibrahim cautioned that while the BJP may be leveraging the stampede to build ties with TVK, the party’s ideological differences and Vijay’s ambition to become Chief Minister could complicate negotiations. “Vijay’s goal is clear—he wants to lead Tamil Nadu. Aligning with the BJP or AIADMK, who are unlikely to cede the CM post, seems improbable at this stage,” he said.

The state BJP chief Nainar Nagendran defended Vijay, claiming he was a victim of the DMK government’s administrative failures and asserting no action was warranted against him. The BJP has also maintained an open stance on alliances, with leaders suggesting that parties are welcome to join their "winning combination." Meanwhile, the AIADMK, a BJP ally in Tamil Nadu, has focused its criticism on CM Stalin rather than Vijay, further fueling speculation of political maneuvering.

As Tamil Nadu’s political fault lines shift, the question remains whether the BJP’s outreach to TVK is a genuine step toward a new alliance or merely a tactical move to exploit the current crisis. With the 2026 elections looming, all eyes are on Vijay and TVK as Tamil Nadu braces for what could be a transformative political chapter.