Minister for Energy Resources and Law R. Nirmalkumar on Friday (August 14, 2026) claimed that the DMK and the BJP had been in a “covert” alliance earlier and had now decided to enter into a “direct” alliance.

The Minister was responding to a question during a press conference at the Secretariat in Chennai on DMK parliamentary party leader Kanimozhi meeting Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in New Delhi on Thursday (August 13).

“The DMK, which had earlier been in an indirect alliance with the BJP, has now decided to enter into a direct alliance. That was why former Minister Anitha R. Radhakrishnan said DMK MP Tiruchi Siva would soon become a Union Minister. Former DMK MP Kanimozhi N.V.N. Somu and BJP leader Vanathi Srinivasam also hinted that there were no permanent enemies or friends in politics,” he said.

When asked about Ms. Kanimozhi’s clarification that she had met Mr. Birla only to discuss the seating arrangements for the DMK MPs, Mr. Nirmalkumar questioned the rationale behind the meeting when the Lok Sabha Speaker had hosted a tea party.

Mr. Nirmalkumar accused the DMK of “surrendering” to the Union government to “protect its ill-gotten wealth.” He said the DMK had decided to do now what it had done in 2001 by forming an alliance with the BJP and giving the BJP “a recognition” in Tamil Nadu.

He said although the DMK had voted in favour of the resolution against delimitation in the Assembly, the party had not so far explicitly said that it would vote against the proposed Delimitation Bill when it was introduced in Parliament.

‘Investments high due to transparency’

Responding to a question on investments worth ₹1 lakh crore coming to Tamil Nadu in the 100 days of the TVK-led government, Mr. Nirmalkumar said all these companies had already been waiting to invest in Tamil Nadu.

During the previous DMK regime, though Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) were publicly signed, a “behind-the-screen MoU had to be entered with the family,” he alleged. Because of this, many companies were reluctant to invest in the State. Now, they are coming forward to invest because of transparency in governance, he said.

Mr. Nirmalkumar said the Southern Zonal Council meeting was expected to be held in Mamallapuram next week. The official schedule had not yet been released and arrangements for the meeting were under way, he said.

Published - August 14, 2026 12:42 pm IST