The seat-sharing deal sealed between AIADMK and its NDA allies for the April 23 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections is generating fierce discontent at the grassroots level, with protests erupting in Coimbatore and simmering anger among AIADMK functionaries in Pudukkottai exposing the fault lines within an alliance that its leaders are eager to project as united.
Coimbatore: Saffron Fury at Eachanari
As reported in Times of India, BJP cadres blocked the Eachanari-Chettipalayam Road, demanding that the Kinathukadavu constituency be handed to the saffron party instead of being retained by AIADMK. At the heart of the protest is former BJP district president Vasantharajan, who had spent three years cultivating the Kinathukadavu segment in anticipation of a ticket only to see it remain with the senior alliance partner.
Protesters argued that the numbers back their demand: in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, BJP secured nearly 7 lakh votes in that region compared to AIADMK’s approximately 3 lakh votes. Despite this, AIADMK retained nine Coimbatore-area seats while BJP received only Coimbatore North – a settlement that cadres on the ground are calling deeply unjust.
The anger escalated beyond a road blockade. As reported in Simplicity, a BJP worker poured petrol on himself in an attempted self-immolation over the Kinathukadavu seat dispute. Police and fellow workers intervened in time to prevent tragedy.
Vasantharajan eventually stepped in to calm the agitating cadres, urging them to channel their energy toward defeating the DMK government rather than fighting over seat allocations. Whether his appeal holds in the days ahead remains to be seen.
Pudukkottai: AIADMK Cadres Bristle at BJP’s Windfall
The grievance in Pudukkottai cuts the other way. Under the finalized NDA deal, BJP was allocated three seats in the district: Gandarvakottai, Aranthangi, and Pudukkottai out of six total assembly segments. AIADMK functionaries are furious that Aranthangi and Gandarvakottai, constituencies where AIADMK has a proven electoral track record, were handed to BJP, which has “hardly had any foothold” in those areas according to local sources.
The irony is stark: while BJP cadres in Coimbatore protest that they were given too little, AIADMK workers in Pudukkottai believe they gave away too much. Even within BJP’s own district unit, sources admitted surprise at receiving three seats in Pudukkottai when other districts with stronger BJP presence got fewer.
#BJP supporters stage a protest near Echanari in #Coimbatore demanding that the Kinathukadavu seat be allotted to the saffron party.
In #Pudukkottai, there is a similar sentiment among AIADMK functionaries about them having the upper hand over the BJP but not having allotted… pic.twitter.com/ZdX0EknLcT
— SrivatsalTOI (@SVatsal14825) March 26, 2026
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