Chennai, Mar 27: Senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram on Friday said the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections are set to be a closely fought contest between two strong fronts, dismissing the possibility of a one-sided outcome as seen in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
In an interaction here, the former Union minister asserted that the upcoming electoral battle would be competitive and dynamic. “The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election will be a close contest,” he said, adding that it will not be “one-sided like the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.”
Weighing in on the debate around coalition politics, Chidambaram disagreed with the long-held view of both the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam that voters in the state would not accept a coalition government, indicating that such an outcome cannot be ruled out.
The Congress veteran also launched a sharp attack on the AIADMK’s alliance with the BJP, describing it as a “puppet show” and alleging that the regional party was being controlled by its national ally.
His remarks come amid heightened political activity in the state, with AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami holding a series of meetings in New Delhi, including with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to finalise seat-sharing arrangements for the 2026 Assembly polls.
The developments have triggered a political row, with the DMK and Congress framing the contest as a broader battle between Tamil Nadu’s autonomy and alleged central influence, turning Palaniswami’s Delhi visits into a key flashpoint ahead of the elections.
As political alignments take shape, Chidambaram’s remarks signal an intensifying contest in the state, with parties gearing up for what is expected to be a high-stakes electoral battle.
