CHENNAI — Standing between the state president of a national party he previously called a threat to federalism and a breakaway faction leader he previously described as a traitor, AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami confirmed Tuesday that his party’s ideology remains an immovable object.

“Our principles are etched in stone,” said Palaniswami, while adjusting his position to ensure the cameras captured the unified front of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a coalition whose membership has fluctuated more frequently than the Chennai humidity index. “While alliances are a temporary arrangement for the minor purpose of winning 234 seats, our soul remains exactly where it was in 1972, or at least where it was during the last cabinet meeting.”

Addressing reporters at an Iftar event in Egmore, where he sat alongside BJP State President Nainar Nagenthran and AMMK founder T.T.V. Dhinakaran, Palaniswami dismissed rumors of a pact with actor-turned-politician Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The denial comes despite reports that the AIADMK has spent the last three weeks staring intensely at the TVK’s internal polling data to see if it aligns with their permanent values.

“We have had no talks with the party you are referring to,” Palaniswami said, referring to the party he has mentioned in four different press releases since October. “As per the guidelines of our late leaders M.G.R. and Jayalalithaa, we only align with those who share our vision of being in power on May 1st.”

The General Secretary’s comments on the permanence of ideology follow a 2025 declaration where he stated that alliances are “only for electoral success,” a nuanced theological position that allows a party to be secular on Tuesdays and partnered with the RSS on Wednesdays.

Meanwhile, in Kanniyakumari, TVK President C. Joseph Vijay continued to distance himself from the established Dravidian giants by promising a “Tamil Nadu Citizen Privilege Card.” While details on the card’s utility remain vague, campaign officials confirmed it would be printed on high-quality plastic, symbolizing a fresh, non-ideological way to ensure every family receives the same government benefits they are already entitled to by law.

“The Privilege Card is our ideology,” a TVK spokesperson said on condition of anonymity. “It is much more durable than a manifesto and fits conveniently in a wallet, unlike a 50-year history of social justice movements.”

As the April 23 polling date approaches, the Rectification Bureau notes that the number of “unshakeable principles” in the state is expected to double, particularly as the final date for withdrawal of candidacies nears. Records indicate that in 2021, the AIADMK’s ideology was valued at approximately 66 seats, whereas current market evaluations suggest it may be traded for a higher volume of rural youth votes.