CPI(M) Leader Shanmugam Warns Against BJP-AIADMK Alliance Disrupting Tamil Nadu Harmony

P. Shanmugam, the State Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Tamil Nadu, has strongly criticized the political alliance between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). Speaking during a campaign event in Kilvelur, Nagapattinam, on April 17, 2026, Shanmugam asserted that this alliance must not be permitted to secure any seats, as it poses a significant threat to the state's longstanding communal harmony. He described Tamil Nadu as a haven of peace where diverse religious communities coexist successfully. Shanmugam alleged that the BJP promotes divisive politics nationally, attempting to spread religious hatred and infringe upon personal freedoms, such as dietary choices, despite constitutional guarantees of equal rights. He contrasted these actions with the social fabric of Tamil Nadu, urging voters to reject the BJP-AIADMK coalition to preserve regional stability and secular values. The remarks were made in support of Latha, the CPI(M) candidate contesting under the DMK-led alliance, highlighting the intense political rivalry and ideological clashes characterizing the current election cycle in the region.