AMMK to hold seat-sharing talks with BJP, not AIADMK: T.T.V. Dhinakaran

Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran said on Sunday that seat-sharing discussions for the upcoming Assembly election would be held with the Bharatiya Janata Party, reiterating his party was a part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) “through the BJP and not the AIADMK”.

Incidentally, the AIADMK is the dominant partner in the alliance. Speaking to reporters after attending a wedding reception at Kollidam near Sirkazhi in Mayiladuthurai district, Mr. Dhinakaran said the AMMK had joined the NDA led by the BJP and seat allocation talks would be conducted through the national party. “We joined the NDA with the BJP. Seat-sharing talks will happen through the BJP. The number of seats is yet to be finalised,” he said.

Mr. Dhinakaran said the AMMK would field candidates while focusing on strengthening the alliance and he would not contest the election and had not sought a Rajya Sabha seat. His decision was aimed at avoiding “unnecessary complications” and ensuring unity within the alliance.

Criticising expelled AIADMK coordinator O. Panneerselvam, he said recent political developments and statements by supporters of Mr. Panneerselvam invoking the names of former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa had hurt the sentiments of party cadre. He said such actions were contrary to the legacy of leaders who had consistently opposed the DMK.

While acknowledging leaders are free to take political decisions, Mr. Dhinakaran described the developments involving Mr. Panneerselvam’s group as “painful and condemnable” from the perspective of party workers and emphasised the need for loyalty to leaders even after their lifetime.

Earlier in the day, referring to the Delhi Police’s arrest of six Bangladeshi nationals for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to carry out a terror attack in Tiruppur, Mr. Dhinakaran criticised the DMK government for having failed in ensuring the safety of the people of Tamil Nadu. He charged that the numbers of murders, dacoity and crimes against women were on the rise. “What will the DMK government say now over the arrests by the Delhi Police? In 2022, it termed the explosion in Coimbatore a cylinder blast and tried to deceive the people.”

Mr. Dhinakaran further contended that there were questions as to whether the State’s Anti Terrorism Squad, which was established in 2023, was in deep slumber. He added that it was certain the people would bring an end to the DMK during the Assembly election.