The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Tamil Nadu, often referred to as BJP Tamil Nadu, is the state affiliate of the national Bharatiya Janata Party. Founded in 1980, with roots tracing back to the Bharatiya Jana Sangh established in 1951, the BJP has had a relatively limited but growing presence in Tamil Nadu's political landscape. The party headquarters, known as Kamalalayam, is located in Chennai, and as of 2025, Nainar Nagendran leads the party as its president in the state.
Historically, BJP's electoral performance in Tamil Nadu has been modest. It won its first assembly seat in the state in 1996 and secured four assembly seats in 2001 when allied with the DMK. Over the years, BJP has aligned with various Dravidian parties including AIADMK and DMK for both state legislative assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Its support base in Tamil Nadu is mainly among specific communities such as Hindu Nadars in Kanyakumari, Gounders in Coimbatore, and Brahmins and other communities in South Chennai.
Though traditionally a minor player in Tamil Nadu’s politics, the BJP has been gaining ground through alliances and attempts to expand its appeal. The party contests elections under the saffron flag and carries Hindu nationalist ideology, aligned with the broader national agenda of the BJP-led alliance, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In Lok Sabha elections, the party has had intermittent wins, with the most recent under the NDA coalition, while it holds a few assembly seats and continues efforts to build a stronger base in the state.