Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address the rally, Hindustan Times (HT) reported citing people familiar with the matter.
The move has fuelled speculation that the AMMK party may be on the verge of rejoining the NDA, months after it exited the coalition.
The rally is scheduled to be held at Madhuranthagam, around 70 km from Chennai. Ahead of the event, BJP’s election in-charge for Tamil Nadu, Union minister Piyush Goyal, is set to visit the state on Wednesday, January 21, to finalise seat-sharing arrangements with allies, as per HT.
The BJP and AIADMK have projected AIADMK general secretary Edappadi Palaniswami (EPS) as the chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Assembly elections, as per HT.
AMMK’s stance on NDA and EPS
AMMK had quit the NDA in September 2025, accusing the BJP of sidelining the party while favouring EPS.
While senior BJP leaders have since urged AMMK to return, party chief TTV Dhinakaran had earlier stated that he would only rejoin the alliance if EPS was not named the chief ministerial candidate.
He was also reportedly exploring a possible tie-up with actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK), as per HT.
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“Dhinakaran has now conveyed his decision to the party to attend the PM’s rally,” an AMMK leader was quoted as saying by HT.
On Saturday, January 17, Dhinakaran told reporters: “I’ve made a promise to a political front that AMMK will join them as an ally. They know that I will keep my word. The announcement will come from the leader of the alliance.”
Behind-the-scenes talks and political arithmetic
Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, who is said to share cordial ties with Dhinakaran, reportedly held several private meetings with him after AMMK’s exit from the NDA last year.
“AMMK was in talks with TVK. Simultaneously BJP leaders also convinced us to re-join to put up a tough fight against the DMK and not allow votes to be split,” a second AMMK leader said, adding that the party’s opposition to EPS remained unchanged, as per HT.
AMMK, a breakaway faction of the AIADMK, draws support from the Thevar community in southern and central Tamil Nadu.
Dhinakaran, his aunt VK Sasikala and former chief minister O Panneerselvam — all from the Thevar community — were expelled from the AIADMK by EPS, who belongs to the Gounder community dominant in western Tamil Nadu.
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“This is the first time NDA leaders will share a stage after AIADMK and BJP revived ties in April 2025,” a senior BJP leader said, noting efforts to bring parties such as DMDK, AMMK and TVK into the NDA fold.
The ruling DMK continues to lead the Secular Progressive Alliance, part of the INDIA bloc, with the Congress and several regional parties as allies.
