A major political upheaval has occurred in Tamil Nadu's political landscape just months before the assembly elections. TTV Dhinakaran's party, the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), has announced its separation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
Cuddalore: A significant shift has been witnessed in Tamil Nadu politics ahead of the assembly elections. The Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK), led by TTV Dhinakaran, has declared its decision to break ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Dhinakaran accused the BJP of deception, stating that his party will no longer be a part of this alliance.
It is noteworthy that the AMMK fielded candidates in two seats during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections but did not achieve success. With the Tamil Nadu assembly elections scheduled for 2026, this decision could give a new direction to the state's politics.
AMMK to Announce New Strategy in December
Interacting with journalists in Kattumannarkoil, Cuddalore district, TTV Dhinakaran stated that his party would reveal its next political strategy in December 2025. However, he did not clarify at the moment whether AMMK would align with a new coalition or contest independently.
Dhinakaran said, "Our party AMMK was founded on the principles of opposing deceit and injustice. We had hoped for positive decisions from Delhi, but that did not happen. We waited for many months, but now it is clear that there is no place for us in the NDA."
Serious Allegations Against BJP
Launching a sharp attack on the BJP, Dhinakaran stated that his party is not "fools" to continuously carry others on their shoulders. He alleged that the BJP had repeatedly promised to take AMMK into confidence, but in reality, nothing of the sort happened. He did not, however, specify who he believed was behind this "deception."
The Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) was formed in 2018. At that time, TTV Dhinakaran, who was previously a senior leader of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), was expelled from the party. Following this, he formed his new party, claiming to carry forward Jayalalithaa's political legacy. AMMK's stated objective was to protect the rights of the people of Tamil Nadu and amplify their voice.
Performance in Lok Sabha Elections 2024?
The AMMK had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in alliance with the NDA from two seats – Theni and Tiruchirappalli. Dhinakaran himself tried his luck as a candidate from Theni but faced defeat. The AMMK was disappointed in both constituencies and the party did not achieve any success. Discussions about dissatisfaction and a new strategy within the party had intensified since this defeat.
This setback is not the only one for the NDA in Tamil Nadu. Recently, O. Panneerselvam, an expelled leader from the AIADMK, had also distanced his party from the NDA. The exit of AMMK now could create further difficulties for the BJP, as the party is already struggling to strengthen its support base in South India.
Currently, the AIADMK holds the leadership of the NDA in Tamil Nadu. However, the relationship between the BJP and AIADMK has also been marked by fluctuations. The two parties parted ways in 2023 but reunited in April 2024. Now, with AMMK and OPS's party out of the NDA, the BJP's position appears to be weakening.
