Speaking to reporters in Madurai, Dhinakaran said AMMK might rejoin NDA if the "obstacles" are removed.
Published Sep 06, 2025 | 8:01 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 06, 2025 | 8:01 PM
TTV Dhinakaran, Founding General Secretary of Amma Makkal Munneetra Kazagam (AMMK). (Sourced)
Synopsis: Dhinakaran said the ill treatment of O Panneerselvam, after the AIADMK rejoined the NDA, too, prompted him to leave the BJP-led front. The AMMK parted ways with the NDA on 3 September.
Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) leader TTV Dhinakaran, on Saturday, 6 September, blamed BJP’s Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagendran for forcing him to pull his party out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Speaking to reporters in Madurai, Dhinakaran said the ill treatment of O Panneerselvam, after the AIADMK rejoined the NDA, too, prompted him to leave the BJP-led front. The AMMK parted ways with the NDA on 3 September.
In a broadside against Nagendran, the AMMK leader said the BJP’s former state president, K Annamalai, had handled the NDA affairs efficiently.
“Annamalai brought us into the alliance. He was transparent. It was because of Annamalai’s efforts that we stayed in the alliance. His removal shocked us. Amit Shah tried to unite us. We were not the reason for his failure. Now, we are not the reason for our exit either,” he said.
It was reported earlier that the BJP replaced Annamalai with Nagendran to placate AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, and bring the Dravidian party back into the NDA fold.
Dhinakaran welcomed KA Sengottiyan’s demand to Palaniswami to bring back to the party all those who had quit the AIADMK.
“Sengottaiyan’s attempt to unite the AIADMK is a good initiative, and I wish it success. He is a senior, an experienced administrator from the MGR era. If necessary, Amma (J Jayalalithaa)’s cadres and we will support him,” he said.
Dhinakaran said the AIADMK would benefit if “Amma’s cadres unite”, and if they did not come together, it would be difficult for Amma’s rule to return.”
A day after Sengottaiyan made the demand and issued an ultimatum of 10 days, the AIADMK on Saturday relieved him of all party responsibilities.
“Sengottaiyan has been removed from his roles as Organisation Secretary and as Secretary of the Erode (West Suburban) district unit,” Palaniswamy said in a statement.
Dhinakaran said AMMK was in the NDA to make Modi the Prime Minister. “Parliament elections and Assembly elections are different, and therefore we exited,” he said.
He further explained the reason for pulling out of the NDA. “We realised that those we oppose will never change, and hence we exited the NDA.”
The style of functioning of the BJP’s current state president, Nagendran, might have prompted Panneerselvam to quit the NDA.
“AIADMK cadres and leaders must wake up. If they think Delhi will engineer some compromise in AIADMK affairs, they are only deceiving themselves,” he said.
Dhinakaran said the AMMK would rejoin the NDA if the “obstacles” are removed.
Stating that whichever alliance in which AMMK is included will win the election, Dhinakaran said there was nothing wrong in joining hands with actor Vijay’s Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam.
“The alliance we join will definitely form the government. Our first choice is NDA, but the AIADMK must make a good decision. There will be no alliance with DMK or with Seeman. In politics, anything can happen. A new alliance will emerge,” he said.
He further added that Vijay should not be belittled. “What’s wrong if we go with Vijay? Shouldn’t he be allowed to take leadership? Vijay should not be belittled,” Dhinakaran said.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
