AMMK General Secretary, T.T.V. Dhinakaran, clarified that there are no intentions to reintegrate V.K. Sasikala into the NDA alliance. This statement follows his recent meeting with Union Home Minister, Amit Shah, in New Delhi amidst the escalating political activities ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
During his visit to the national capital, Dhinakaran engaged in discussions with Home Minister Amit Shah and also met with Union Minister and BJP’s Tamil Nadu incharge Piyush Goyal. These interactions are seen as part of a broader consultation process within the NDA as parties gear up for the upcoming polls.
Sources suggest that the discussions encompassed various electoral matters, such as seat-sharing arrangements, constituency preferences, and the potential for AMMK to contest using its ‘pressure cooker’ symbol.
Emphasizing the importance of alliance unity, Dhinakaran downplayed the significance of these talks, stating that the primary focus at this stage is on maintaining alliance cohesion rather than engaging in specific negotiations.
Reiterating his stance on Sasikala, Dhinakaran affirmed that there are no immediate plans to incorporate her into the alliance framework, effectively ruling out her immediate political involvement within the NDA.
In a critique directed at the ruling DMK government, Dhinakaran alleged that the State leadership becomes “anxious” whenever opposition leaders visit Delhi. He also highlighted the significant financial support provided by the Centre to Tamil Nadu, amounting to nearly ₹12 lakh crore over the past 12 years.
Meanwhile, PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, who is also in Delhi, is expected to have a separate meeting with Home Minister Shah, indicating parallel consultations with key regional figures.
Additionally, the scheduled visit of Piyush Goyal to Chennai has been postponed and is now slated for Sunday. Formal discussions on seat-sharing among NDA allies are anticipated to commence after these initial talks, signaling that alliance negotiations are still in the early stages.
