Prime Minister Narendra Modi said to a crowd in Coimbatore on April 20 that Tamil Nadu voters are sending a clear message: “NDA in, DMK out.”

The remark matters because the state’s 2026 assembly elections are set for April 18, a contest that will determine which party or alliance governs the southern state for the next five years [1]. Modi’s statement seeks to frame the National Democratic Alliance as the favored choice and to cast the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam as a losing option.

Tamil Nadu’s election calendar began with the first round of polling on April 9, marking the start of a multi‑phase process that will see millions of voters cast ballots across the state [2]. The early phase results have already drawn national attention, with parties gauging momentum ahead of the decisive April 18 vote.

During the Coimbatore rally, Modi said, “People of Tamil Nadu are sending a clear message: NDA in, DMK out.” He said the sentiment reflected a “new chapter in Tamil Nadu politics.”

The opposition, led by the DMK, has dismissed the Prime Minister’s remarks as political grandstanding. Party leaders argue that local issues and regional leadership will ultimately decide the outcome, not statements made at a rally.

Analysts note that the BJP’s strategy of linking the NDA brand to the state’s electorate aims to capitalize on any anti‑incumbency sentiment against the DMK‑Congress alliance. If the message resonates, it could boost the BJP’s vote share and influence coalition dynamics in the state legislature.

The election’s outcome will also affect the national balance of power, as Tamil Nadu holds a significant number of parliamentary seats. A shift toward the NDA could strengthen the ruling coalition’s position in New Delhi.

**What this means** The Prime Minister’s declaration underscores the high stakes of the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections. By positioning the NDA as the preferred alliance, the BJP is attempting to expand its foothold in a state traditionally dominated by regional parties. Voter response to this narrative will be a key indicator of the BJP’s ability to translate national prominence into regional victories.

“People of Tamil Nadu are sending a clear message: NDA in, DMK out.”

The Prime Minister’s declaration underscores the high stakes of the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections. By positioning the NDA as the preferred alliance, the BJP is attempting to expand its foothold in a state traditionally dominated by regional parties. Voter response to this narrative will be a key indicator of the BJP’s ability to translate national prominence into regional victories.