BJP won’t support any coalition formation in Tamil Nadu: Nainar Nagenthran

BJP State president Nainar Nagenthran on Friday (May 8, 2026) said his party will not support any of the formations attempting to form the government in Tamil Nadu following the 2026 Assembly election, in which no party or alliance secured a simple majority in the 234-member House.

The BJP, as part of the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance, contested 27 seats. Its allies, Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) and Tamilaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, also contested on the BJP’s symbol, taking the party’s total contest tally to 33 seats. Of these, the BJP won only the Udhagamandalam Assembly segment. The party’s nominee M. Bhojarajan won by a slim margin of 976 votes.

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Meanwhile, the party on Friday (May 8, 2026) held a meeting at its State headquarters in Chennai to analyse the results. Later, Mr. Nagenthran told reporters the people of Tamil Nadu had not given the BJP any chance to be part of the government. “Although the people of Tamil Nadu have not given us recognition, we humbly accept the verdict. We will continue to raise our voice for the cause of the people.”

Mr. Nagenthran also clarified the lone BJP MLA-elect would not vote for any of the formations attempting to form the government. “None of the parties has approached us seeking our support. We are also not going to extend support to any other party,” he said.

To a question on whether the Governor should have called the leader of the single largest party and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam president C. Joseph Vijay to form the government, Mr. Nagenthran said the Governor had all powers to ask for numbers. “It is their [TVK’s] duty to give their numbers. If they are not satisfied with the Governor, they can approach the court,” he added.