TTV Dhinakaran, the General Secretary of Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), is set to re-enter the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and is expected to join the alliance’s campaign launch meeting near Chennai on January 23, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be speaking. This move by Dhinakaran signifies a significant political realignment just before the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Dhinakaran was previously associated with the NDA during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls but left the alliance after AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami was declared as the Chief Ministerial candidate for the state. He had strongly opposed being part of any coalition led by Palaniswami at that time.
After exiting the NDA, Dhinakaran explored other political options and was in discussions to join actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). However, these talks did not materialize into a formal alliance, leaving the AMMK without a major coalition for a period.
Recently, Dhinakaran met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, which paved the way for his potential return to the NDA. Although Dhinakaran has not officially confirmed his decision, his presence at the January 23 event is highly anticipated by political observers.
Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to kick off the NDA’s election campaign in Tamil Nadu on January 23, with various NDA leaders, including former Chief Minister Palaniswami and other prominent figures, expected to attend. If Dhinakaran indeed participates in the event, it would bring an end to the speculation surrounding his political future and highlight the NDA’s efforts to strengthen its alliance in Tamil Nadu for the upcoming elections.
