Chennai, Jan 19(IANS) Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) General Secretary, TTV Dhinakaran, is set to re-enter the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and is expected to participate in the alliance’s campaign launch meeting to be addressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi near Chennai on January 23, according to sources on Monday.
Dhinakaran’s return to the NDA marks a significant political realignment ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the AAMMK General Secretary was part of the NDA, but later exited the alliance after it announced AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the state.
At that time, Dhinakaran had taken a strong stand against any coalition led by Palaniswami, publicly saying that he would not be part of such an arrangement.
Following his exit, Dhinakaran explored alternative political alignments and was reported to be in talks to join actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
However, those efforts did not culminate in a formal alliance, leaving the AMMK outside any major coalition for a period.
In a fresh development, Dhinakaran recently met the Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
Sources said the meeting paved the way for his return to the NDA, with Amit Shah extending an invitation to rejoin the alliance.
While Dhinakaran has not made an official announcement confirming his decision, political circles view his presence at the January 23 event as a near-certainty.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to address the NDA’s first major campaign meeting in Tamil Nadu on January 23, signalling the formal launch of the alliance’s election campaign in the state.
Leaders of several NDA constituents are expected to be on the dais, including former Chief Minister Palaniswami, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, Tamil Maanila Congress (Moopanar) President G.K. Vasan, IJK founder TR Paarivendhar, TMMK leader John Pandian, and Puratchi Bharatham leader Poovai Jagan Moorthy, among others.
If Dhinakaran participates in the meeting as expected, it would effectively end months of speculation over his political future and underscore the NDA’s efforts to consolidate its alliance in Tamil Nadu ahead of a crucial electoral battle.
–IANS
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