1989 – A major split in Tamil Nadu politics creates a fragmented party landscape that later mirrors the crowded field of new outfits ahead of the 2026 election [5].

1998 – The BJP and AIADMK launch a joint campaign in Tamil Nadu, establishing a pattern of alliance that resurfaces in 2026 election strategies [4].

2019 – The BJP‑AIADMK partnership repeats in the national elections, reinforcing their cooperation for future state contests [4].

2021 – The BJP and AIADMK contest Tamil Nadu together again, marking the latest pre‑2026 cooperation between the parties [4].

Dec 14, 2025 – Chief Minister M.K. Stalin tells a DMK youth‑wing meeting that neither Union Home Minister Amit Shah nor the Sangh Parivar can win in Tamil Nadu, accusing them of spreading lies and asserting the DMK as the sole regional opposition to the BJP [7].

Dec 14, 2025 – Stalin quotes a Tamil‑film line to rebuff Shah’s claim that Tamil Nadu is the BJP’s next target after Bihar, emphasizing the state’s distinct character [7].

Dec 14, 2025 – Udhayanidhi Stalin urges youth participation in the upcoming 2026 Assembly election, calling on leaders to engage directly with people rather than seek comfort [7].

Dec 23, 2025 – Union Minister Piyush Goyal meets AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami in Chennai to begin NDA seat‑sharing talks for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, marking Goyal’s first visit as BJP’s election in‑charge [6].

Dec 23, 2025 – Goyal publicly blames the DMK government for corruption and pledges a development‑focused agenda for women, youth, farmers, fishermen, industrialists and traders ahead of the 2026 polls [6].

Dec 23, 2025 – Palaniswami declares that the NDA will oust the “anti‑people DMK government” and that partners will campaign at the grassroots level for a sweeping 2026 victory under Prime Minister Modi [6].

Jan 1, 2026 – New parties such as TVK, Naam Tamilar Katchi and DMDK surge into Tamil Nadu politics, echoing the 1989 split and intensifying competition ahead of the 2026 Assembly election [5].

Jan 1, 2026 – Veteran Kongu leader K.A. Sengottaiyan leaves the Palaniswami faction to join actor Vijay’s new party, while MLA P. Manoj Pandian switches allegiance to the DMK, reshaping regional power balances [5].

Jan 1, 2026 – Former AIADMK chief O. Panneerselvam meets Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, sparking speculation of a future DMK‑OPS collaboration; officials rule out a direct alliance, expecting OPS to side with the AIADMK‑BJP combine [5].

Jan 1, 2026 – Congress leader Girish Chodankar publicly demands a share in government; the DMK rejects the demand, while internal Congress tensions rise over outreach to actor Vijay and the TVK party [5].

Jan 1, 2026 – Actor Vijay brands the DMK an “evil force,” amplifying anti‑DMK rhetoric and hinting at possible alignment with the BJP‑led front, though such a move remains speculative [5].

Jan 4, 2026 – Union Home Minister Amit Shah, at a BJP roadshow in Pudukottai, labels the DMK government “the most corrupt,” accuses its ministers of multi‑crore cash‑for‑jobs, sand‑mining and coal scams, and pledges that the NDA will form the Tamil Nadu government in April 2026, aiming to install Udhayanidhi Stalin as chief minister [3].

Jan 4, 2026 – Shah frames the 2026 contest as a fight against dynastic politics and highlights Modi‑government achievements such as the Subramania Bharathi Chair and Thirukkural translations to contrast with the DMK [3].

Jan 4, 2026 – AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami, speaking at a Salem rally, asserts that AIADMK will form the next government on its own after the 2026 Assembly election, rejecting any NDA arrangement and accusing the DMK of corrupt practices including bribes for stone‑crusher permits and diversion of women’s self‑help‑group funds [4].

Jan 4, 2026 – Palaniswami claims the DMK renamed rather than restored the Old Pension Scheme and delayed the appointment of a regular DGP, using these points to portray the DMK as anti‑people ahead of the vote [4].

Jan 4, 2026 – He predicts AIADMK will win all 11 assembly constituencies in Salem district in 2026, underscoring the party’s confidence in its regional stronghold [4].

Feb 18, 2026 – Chief Minister M.K. Stalin tables Part I of the High‑Level Committee on Union‑State Relations report in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, urging a constitutional amendment to vest full powers in states and accusing the BJP‑led Union of shifting subjects from the State List to the Concurrent List [1].

Feb 18, 2026 – Stalin argues that the current centrally‑allocated funding formula penalises wealthier states and frames “autonomy for the States and federalism at the Centre” as a pan‑Indian demand, hoping the report sparks informed debate among legislators, jurists and citizens [1].

Feb 18, 2026 – Within the Secular Progressive Alliance, Congress MPs Manickam Tagore and Praveen Chakravarty publicly criticize the DMK despite party directives, exposing strain in the alliance that delivered a strong Congress haul in the 2024 general election [2].

Feb 18, 2026 – Analysts note that Congress’s limited electoral strike rate in the 2021 Assembly (18 of 25 contested seats) undercuts its bargaining power in the SPA, and that abandoning the alliance for a TVK tie‑up would likely backfire, according to editorial commentary [2].